Back catalogue: Drum And Bass

Review: California-based, British drum & bass musician ASC returns with more homages to late 90s atmospheric drum & bass on his excellent sub-label Spatial. Anyone who has been following his work and the releases that he's put out on his Auxiliary label and sub labels in the past few years should know what to expect. Following on from last month's excellent full-length Next Time You Fall, 'Undercurrents' is four tracks of impeccably produced ambient jungle. The first cut, 'Ocean Breeze', has a simpler rhythm than you would expect from him, which could be a hint at a more liquid future direction. The next three cuts are classic ASC: cut-up, spaced-out breaks interspersed with dreamy vocals.

Review: Mindgames' dedication to capturing the golden era of jungle while incorporating modern production techniques aligns seamlessly with ASC's unique style. In these two EPs, the maestro blends the vast soundscapes of his Spatial releases with the raw energy of his 2020 jungle trilogy for Samurai Music. From the driving beats of 'Shadow Of The Beast' to the smooth, deep stepping vibe of 'Phaaze' and the expansive sounds of 'Cells Interlinked,' ASC demonstrates his deep jungle expertise once more. 'Snowblind' is a gem that pays homage to Photek's space jazz, while 'Flux' features a mesmerising groove wrapped around an infectious bassline. What an EP.

Review: There's seemingly no end to ASC's offerings to the drum & bass world and so it continues on this beautifully packaged black splattered yellow 10" from the Waveforms series. 'Waveform 03' is an airy jungle excursion with explosive amens set off against vast expanses of pads, while 'Waveform 04' locks into a sleeker, techier approach where the icy atmospherics have more space to stretch out. No one is even close to the quality and quantity of ASC, and this is yet another essential addition to his huge legacy.

Review: Mind Over Matter', the latest release from ASC, continues his explorations into atmospheric, breakbeat-driven soundscapes with striking results. Opening track 'Desire' sets the tone with a lush beat structure, punctuated by sharp cymbal strikes. Subtle whale song samples are woven into the mix, accompanied by a warm bassline and tender piano melodies, while swirling strings ebb and flow, creating an almost tidal sense of movement. 'Voidscaping' follows, launching immediately into crisp, striking breakbeats. The throwback pads recall the heyday of Good Looking, but ASC's meticulous sampling and deep reverb work keep the track fresh, merging nostalgia with modern complexity. On the flip, 'Let Go' brings in the sounds of nature, with metallic bongos and a restrained choral vocal riding over playful, energetic hi-hats. The atmosphere builds, layering strings, synths, and ASC's trademark vocal elements, each listen revealing new intricacies. 'Meltdown' wraps things up with a darker, more anxious vibe. Minimal breaks and elusive hi-hats give the track a creeping tension, while ambient pads and a yearning female vocal add a layer of emotional depth. It's a finely balanced track, blending melancholy and intensity in a way that ASC has mastered.

Review: Musical talisman ASC joins Mindgames for Mindgame 6, twinned with the concurred release Mindgame 5. Mindgames' commitment is to capture the essence of golden-era jungle while infusing it with updated production techniques, a mission that perfectly complements ASC's approach. On these two EPs, ASC bridges the expansive soundscapes and raw dynamisms of his 2020 jungle trilogy for Samurai Music. From the heads-down launchpads of 'Shadow Of The Beast', to the deep-stepping glides of 'Phaaze', and onto the epic 'scapes of 'Cells Interlinked', ASC pens a sonic manifesto for the master-crafting of deep jungle.

Review: With the Waveforms series, spacefaring drum & bass titan ASC moves away from the pure cosmic thematics for a much more formal take on his craft. Having released these tracks in wavy serial form since at least the end of 2023, specially on 10", these 'Waveforms' could be said to track a tidal movement in ASC's psyche, with the releases therein following his many capricious oscillatory whims i.e. as he sees fit, whether in response to lunar cycles or otherwise. Still, that hasn't stopped him from releasing over three additions to the series, though: now, waveforms 11 and 12 emerge. Both tracks extirpate ASC's sound as something purely formal - without the usual metaphysical or outer-spatial fetishisms - yet still take up huge amounts of bandwidth (though not to the point of sounding undynamic) and stir up a primal rancour in us by way of militant techstep on the A, and string-baked Arcadian amens on the B.

Review: If you don't love ASC, do you even like electronic music? The master studio technician never makes anything less than thrilling sounding whether exploring ambient, jungle, or in-between worlds. Both characterise this new EP on Spatial which comes on lovely splattered vinyl 12". 'Synergy' pairs busy Amen breaks with lush pad work, 'Suspended Animation' is an icy and deft jungle workout in the farthest reaches of deep space and 'Repetition' is a super chill, slick and emotive excursion to the stars. 'Pharaoh' is another pristine production with infectious drum funk at its core.

Review: Samurai sign out of 2023 with this stunning expedition from longstanding craftsman ASC. One of the deepest to do it, here on 'House Of Leaves' he whips up a beguiling sense of atmosphere as we gradually ramp up the intensity from the tense and stretched out title track opener to the savage cymbal slaps of the finale 'Exploration #4'. In between we find our souls soothed by the relentless drumfunk of 'The Navidson Record' and our brains shattered by the cosmic turbo zaps of 'The 5 1/2 Minute Hallway'. Far out.

Review: Hyaku marks the 100th vinyl release for Samurai Music, so shout out to the crew for staying dedicated to the format. It also celebrates nearly 17 years of dedication to quality music and timeless design and, for this milestone, the label has assembled producers who epitomise the current Samurai sound. Each track offers a unique take on that from the crunchy breakbeats of ACS to the relentless energy of Sam KDC's 'Mutilate.' Together, these contributions form a diverse collection that highlights the artistry and innovation of this talented crew while also reflecting the journey Samurai has been on for all these years. Here's to many more.