Juno Recommends Drum & Bass July 2020

Review: Vibez 93 is keeping shut on who they are, but word on the street is they are an already huge and established artist. Frankly, who cares, because the music has plenty to say for itself. This is the latest in a long line of big hitters that jungle fans old and new will immediately fall for. There are airy, spring time vibes on the lovely opener "One" and more dark and complex drums on "Evil Forces". "Passenger" ups the ante again with a flurry of snares and driving bass stabs, then "Ten Eighty Eight" closes out in elastic fashion with a real face melter.

Review: Relooping the generations; John Morrow (AKA Skeleton Army AKA 4 Horsemen Of The Apocalypse AKA Foul Play) serves up a collection that nods in both directions. 4 Hero's Marc Clair takes the lead under his old school hardcore alias Manix. Bouncy and loaded with positivity, it sets the scene before Morrow remixes his 23 old Foul Play track "Dark Horse" into a slinky, technoid breakbeat jam. Flip for some future flavours: Denham Audio looks to early Good Looking for inspiration on "Mercury Tint" while Mani Festo goes wild on a percussive dnb finale. Smile or kill trying.

Review: Back to 95! One of Source Direct's earliest cuts - prior to changing the game on Metalheadz - "A Different Groove" gets a 2020 remaster and its first repress since 96. It comes courtesy of the label where it all began: Odysee, home to early cuts from the likes of Photek as well the seminal St Albans duo. Recently rekindled with new remixes and reissues, this rampant piece of breakcraft still sounds every bit as full and future as it did 25 years ago. Loaded with a remix from original label co-boss Andy Odysee, this still knocks spots off the competition.

Review: Metrik has long been one of Hospital Records' most intriguing artists - a producer whose weighty, punchy and futuristic take on drum and bass draws on a wider palette of influences (think Depeche Mode, Bjork, synth-wave, the Prodigy, film soundtracks and so on) than many of his contemporaries. These varied influences have inspired his work for some time, though rarely quite as obviously as on new album "Ex Machina", his third LP. Bold, heavily electronic and undeniably rugged, the set includes a range of instrumentals and vocal tracks rich in sparkling synth sounds, aggressive riffs, booming basslines and, of course, bustling D&B rhythms. Highlights include "Closer", the trance-influenced "We Are The Energy", the dreamy ambient flex of "Ascension" and the simmering, string-laden beauty of "Shadows".

Review: Freddie Dixon returns to The North Quarter with his first full release since last year's TNQ album Better Days. Five tracks deep, each one reps his many nuanced shades. "The Creatures From Planet 9" kicks us off on a dark pranged out roll while "Dedication" follows the same momentum but brings a little soulful twang to the mix and "This Is Not Science" bumps and bruises us with badboy science. On the lighter, more soulful side of FD, "The Feeling" sees TNQ regular KinKai reflect on the other side's green grass over dreamy feels while "Lie To You" is all about the dusky sombre tones of Akemi Fox and more of FD's stunning drums. Light up your nights.

Review: Absolute flames from the Transmute crew as they put together this sweet trippy VA three-piece. Booca takes the lead and sets the tone with "Breath Of My Spirit". Jazzy keys and baggy breaks, there's a lush summery feel running throughout the blend and it's backed by the much more direct and classic sounding jungle of DSP's "Just A Touch". Dalston Chillies' founder Ben Kei closes the EP with the heaviest cut of the set; nasty breaks, evil mentasms and ominous strings. This is war music.

Review: UK Jungle Records continues to set a fine standard with its third EP. It's a various artist affair that kicks off with Simply Dread's old school roller, complete with summery flute lines and old school vocals that bring good time vibes. Omen Breaks then grabs you by the synapses and runs with you down a darkened rabbit hole on "Don Teifion" and Supa Ape brings more celestial and soulful vibes on his widescreen gem "Leviathan". Junglord closes down with "Pabst Blue Ribbon", which is hard hitting and intense.

Review: German beat mutant Acid Lab dents the discogs on provocative burgeoning imprint AGN7 with four cavernous beasts. All flexing around the Samurai/Metalheadz axis in terms of space and palette, each cut hits hard with authenticity. "Secret Weapon" hits like it's 97 but on a halftime flex. "Unleash" is a savage Rupture level piece of breakbeat chaos. "Shadow Recruit" goes on some cosmic 160 Tipper style elastic bass funk while "Before The Storm" takes you right into it eye then blasts you out with a creepy breakbeat hurricane. Serious tackle, this.

Review: Here's a piece of history right here; Aphrodite goes back to his first ever release. Fresh from 92, both sitting in the hardcore breakbeat chapter of the UK rave explosion, "Raw Motion" has a big beat hip-hop energy to it while "Dub Motion" is a full-on bongo roller with dreamy detuned rave sprinkles and a vibe still set to max 28 years later. Firm foundations.