New releases last eight weeks: All genres

Review: Vinyl Fanatiks latest deep dive into British dance music's rave-era past takes us back to 1993 and an early EP from Dave 'Aquasky' Wallace under the Rave Doctor alias. All four tracks were originally released - minus titles - on Stu J's influential Adrenalin Records imprint via the 'I' EP, which in recent years has become something of an in-demand item amongst collectors. Now fully remastered, the tracks sound as rushing and energetic as ever, with Wallace flitting between sub-heavy 4/4 breakbeat hardcore (the thumping 'Live With The Hardcore'), blistering breakbeat hardcore ('Shake Your Rump', which features a typical-for-the-period chords-and-sped-up-vocals breakdown), proto-jungle insanity from the 'jungle-tekno' period ('Annihilating Rhythm') and an 'Apache' break-driven slab of sub-heavy breathlessness ('Ruff In The Jungle', with its jangling pianos and hands-aloft approach).

Review: Euphoric breakbeat hardcore of the fourth kind from Pillz, the bespoke rave label and expert belt-notchers of unknown artistry on 12". This edition brings 'I Can Feel It', which provides instant-classic countdowns and descending orchestral stabs aplenty; and 'Buzzing', which revolves around a central Kym Mazelle house sample and unfurls alongside it as an FM stab-laden, boomwhacking, redlining hurtler of speed-limit-flouting proportions.

Review: It's spinbacks, rave stabs and "can't you see"s galore on Injectionz' debut tenth hardcore dubplate, released on their eponymous imprint. Faithful to the form, this is a debut that won't fail to impress even the more seasoned veterans of the scene either; intro track 'Gotta Believe' seems to make light of its debutante's ambition by way of slapstick scat samples and even an "oh my god, I'm a DJ" interjection, then spraying the 'phones with scratches, cutups and repitchings at a blasphemous rate of fire. B-sider 'Rockin' The House' demonstrates a laxer tendency, proving that many different auditory vaccinations are indeed on offer to the would-be fan.

Review: Vinyl Fanatiks take it all the way back to 1993 with this reissued EP by Fruit & Veg. It has been fully remastered of the occasion and sounds as good now in terms of the fidelity, as well as the style, as it did 30+ years ago. 'Dark Enough?' is a nice heads-down and hardcore jungle roller with broad, menacing bass that booms out beneath the silky loops. Flip it over and '25%' again has some devastating amen breaks looped to infinity while more tripped melodies bring a darker rave edge to this one.

Review: Iconic label/record shop from the mid-90s Remix Records is back courtesy of Kniteforce! And this five-piece party pack from one of London's most consistent breaksmiths right now - man like Dwarde - is the perfect way to herald their hardcore legacy. Big pianos, pitched up vocals, swashbuckling Amens and house samples galore, Dwarde takes everyone to 1994 on a big old ravey magic carpet but with an edge and energy that will fit all junglist sets at the same time. Magic.

Review: We're back in that electrifying breakthrough breakbeat period courtesy of Amen Brother to revisit the sound of the mighty DJ Pooch. This latest volume brings you more of those ruff 'n' tuff crossovers between early hardcore, jungle techno and more besides, beefed up to swing it with the best of them in the modern era. You might well recognise one or two of the samples flying around in 'Mind, Body & Soul (Remix)', while 'Rush On Me' has its own iconic hooks alongside some deadly, skull-crushing breakbeat pressure. 'I Need U' is a vintage, bleepy workout of the highest calibre and 'Hypnotising' finishes the record off in chilling old-skool style. Essential gear for rave veterans and revivalists alike.

Review: As any keen breakbeat heads will know, DJ H's 'The Bass Project' EP came originally back in 1993 and is something of a classic in the genre. It is now getting reissued on nice heavyweight and pink marled vinyl in mad limited quantities but all mastered from a mint vinyl copy. The record infamously suffered from a questionable mixdown and so for this new reissue, the original samples have been re-sourced and layered over the restored files. Apparently, it took some 23 straight man-hours to get the work done - but it has paid off as these sound superb.

Review: Breakbeat brederen unite for another sermon at the altar of Dawl who brings the chaos to this new 12", Slice & Dice. The title track kicks off with some mad old school scratching before fresh breaks bounce along and a ragged bassline joins in the fun. 'Let's Go For A Ride is another percussive workout with snares and toms all flapping away at high speed and 'Sonic Boom' keeps up the madness with slick, high-speed beats and corrugated bassline. Last but not least, 'Ready To Go' completes the picture with another fresh collision of breaks and scratching.

Review: Four years after his acclaimed Brame long player, Julien Chastagnol aka Ruby My Dear returns with his fourth album, A dada. It is another experimental sound world that is a joyous yet intricate fusion of drill 'n' bass and IDM, akin to what the artist himself says is "a breakcore lullaby." Across all four sides of wax, he goes in hard on the breakbeats and tightly programmed drums, with layers of scuzzy heavy metal sounds, looped and warped vocals and mind-melting synths that fizz and spin, explode and impulse on a constant basis to leave you feeling exhausted mentally and physically.