Drum And Bass charts

Review: Many happy returns to V Recordings, which this year notched up no less than three decades at the forefront of the global jungle and drum & bass scene. Such an occasion warrants a celebratory release, and Gee has provided that via this painstakingly curated collection of new gems, remixed takes on classic cuts, and previously unavailable 'VIP' versions. Naturally, the quality threshold remains high throughout, with our picks of an exceptionally strong bunch including the d&b-acid insanity of Serum's revision of 'Acid Fashion' by Nazca Linez, the elongated wobble bass and punishing beats of Krust's 'Not Necessarily a Man (L-Side VIP)', the bowel-bothering onslaught of Voltage's 'Lion of Judah', the deep, dreamy and punchy 'Majesty' by Alibi, and the bleeping jungle revivalism-goes-jazz funk madness of Chimpo's 'Fever'.

Review: There are basically two types of anniversary compilations: the humble retrospective, packed with classics and significant musical moments from the past, and collections of all-new music that showcase where an imprint is at right now. Predictably, Planet My founder Mike Paradinas AKA U-Ziq has chosen the latter option to mark the occasion of his legendary experimental label's 30th birthday. There's naturally plenty to get the blood pumping and the synapses snapping across the 25 tracks on show, from the skittish IDM of Jlin ('B12'), mutant future-boogie of Venetian Snares ('Drums') and hard-to-pigeonhole excellence of Falty DL ('Usually I'm Cautious'), to the chopped-and-screwed r&b of Bae Bae ('Living In The Memory'), Nik Colk Void's industrial gunk ('A Tough Design (demo)'), the glassy-eyed D&B/ambient techno of Xylitol ('Nevada') and the sample-rich instrumental hip-hop hedonism of Luke Vibert ('Bullet Drop').

Review: Kings of new school drum & bass Chase & Status made another triumphant return with 2 Ruff Viol 1, which is jam packed with fresh new wave jungle anthems for those who like it energetic. The chart topping duo knows a thing or two about crafting big bangers and massive anthems and that's what they do here as they follow up their last album What Came Before with more massive moments. Plenty of guests help them along the way here such as IRah & Flowdan & Trigga & Takura on the massive 'Baddadan' and Avo & Horrid1 on 'On The Block', a collar with Mosey which is also devastatingly large.

Review: Is there a more consistently policy and famously high quality producer in all of electric music - let alone just drum & bass - that the universally respected Irishman, Calibre? The don of drums and baron of bass is by now a master of his art and the one going Shelflife series continually proves that time and time again. This seventh volume is once again jam-packed with silky rhythms, soulful sounds and meticulous craftsman ship across a wide range of tempos and moods. There are roomy steppers like 'Ready Beek' next to darker, edgier and more menacing cuts like 'Snoopy' signature emotive sounds like 'Nearly Nothing.'

Review: Since releasing his debut single in 1994, Tom Withers AKA Klute has been one of the most prolific and reliable artists in drum and bass, releasing well over half a century of single releases in the process. "Whatever It Takes" is his ninth LP in total and lands 21 years after his first. There's much to enjoy throughout, with the Ipswich-based artist giddily skipping between elastic, funk-fuelled workouts, soaring liquid anthems, marginally darker and moodier fare, acid-fired rollers and, as the album progresses, tech-house and techno-influenced four-to-the-floor cuts. Throw in a handful of melodious, IDM-flecked downtempo numbers and you have an ear-pleasing set of expertly produced electronic gems.