Back catalogue: Drum And Bass

Review: Does drum and bass get any better than this? Two of the finest names in the genre club together for "Run Away", met in the middle by the man like Fox who puts his vocal stylings into the mix. Rolling out smooth, it's that lulling bassline and softly-spoken chorus that takes the edge off punchy drums and signature Intalex-style strings from the pad section. Fans have been waiting for a release on this for some time now - finally, it's ownable. Showing that they can still deliver tastier goods for the dancefloor, "Something Heavy" is a funk-fuelled hips-mover with Fox sending out his raggamuffin sounds over down and dirty bass. You've heard it in the dance, now get it on repeat.

Review: On a mission to "make d&b great again", Finland's Straight Up Breakbeat pass through once more with the second of three EPs formed to showcase modern junglism. Kicking off, 'Mystery Machines' sees Glastonbury's Dead Mans Chest slam down some deadly amen choppage reinforced by haunting vocal FX and paranoid drones. Aeon Four & FFF's 'Look Inside' is a jungle-tekno roller, served with chunky hardcore style amens and a side of warm old-skool pads. Keeping the mid-90s vibe alive, the tripped out 'Green Fields Forever ' from Fanu - which drops hot on the heels of his greatly received remaster of Source Direct's 'Stars' - delivers airtight amen trickery, weaving synth washes and blissful dubby basslines. Esc & Mineral round things off with 'Photosynthesis', a pensive stepper highlighting cut-up breaks waltzing with cheeky synth nudges and a wide, rugged bassline. If the pioneers had buried some beefed-up tracks in a time-capsule to inspire future generations, they would probably sound a lot like 'States of Art II'.

Review: Since 2017, KOKOKO! have been trailblazing Kinshasa's sonic revolution while earning global acclaim for their unique sound and vibrant performances. Recognised as the best live band by AIF, they've been featured on NPR Tiny Desk, Boiler Room, and major festivals like SXSW and Pitchfork. Their debut album, Fongola, received rave reviews, and now they are back with another album that is unlike much else you will have heard. BUTU, which is inspired by Kinshasa's vibrant nightlife, has been proceeded by the lead single 'Mokili.' The album has further cues taken from Kinshasa, Kwaito, and 90s dance music and channels the band's hometown's frenetic energy with a sense of social activism into a powerful statement.

Review: Fokuz return with another blink-and-miss limited white label. Fully anonymous, due to the nature of the sample, here we're taken right back to a thrilling time in pop as the swooning chords, twinkling synths and famous falsetto of 'Human Nature' are given the d&b treatment. Faithful to the original but given a turbo-charged twist (and a VIP rub), it's one of those end of night hug-it-out jams you've been yearning to play all lockdown. Grab this quicker than you can say Shamone.

Review: Forest On Stasys takes the plunge here and launches a new label, Aura Sonora, which debuts with a hugely limited and high-quality new 12" from the boss. The imprint will be "a platform designed for sound experimentation" and the first missive backs that up with a great blend of drum & bass, half-time and techno. 'Magnetismo' is a prickly opener with slippery rhythms underpinned by bold bass. 'Domo' is a darker sound with menacing low ends and prickly percussive patterns while 'Sideral' is another late-night prowler with low sling sounds, eerie atmospheres and a real sense of futurism. A great start to life for Aura Sonora.

Review: Four of the scene's most soulful heavyweights representing with sublime slices of rolling gold on Soulr's consistently impressive four-piece series: Zero T polishes up ivories so much you can see your thoughts in them, Tokyo Prose toys with a lush falsetto and dreamy soundscapes, FD find the blue note on his DAW and wraps it up tight in the smoky tones of Collette Warren while LSB reminds us of the beauty of sample-based groove simplicity with hypnotic Q&A charm. Authentic timeless D&B.

Review: If there is a more hyped artist in the world right now than Fred... again we aren't sure who it might be. The lad who grew up close to Brian Eno and has since worked with him in the studio is a global star who has also collaborated with Four Tet and Skrillex, played all over the world, won various awards and dropped several albums now presses up his acclaimed USB to gatefold double vinyl. It is a collection of his early singles that captures his lo-fi, lived-in, diaristic sounds across a range of experimental electronic styles.

Review: Album alert! Fred V returns to the big H for his second solo album Luminous. Building on the vibe he set with 2021's Radiate album, Luminous dances that fine line between pop and dance with big bright dynamics, infectious hooks and bundles of springy, sunny side euphoria. Featuring link-ups with the likes of Dan Dakota, DNMO, Hybrid Minds, Etherwood, Lottie Jones and others, vibes range from the neon turbo disco of 'Take Over' to the solemn introspective ballad 'Subliminal' via powe3rful dancefloor jams like the title track. A stately Hospital LP that does everything you want it to.