Drum & Bass Recommendations July 2011

Review: London based drum and bass label Critical Music announce their staggering 55th release straight from the studio of SP:MC, Jubei and Dakuan, aka, Code 3, whose contributions to the genre haven't gone unnoticed in recent years. "What You Sayin" opens with simple two-tone chords and staggered break, eventually pounding into fearless snares and thudding subs. Intriguingly subtle at times, smooth keys dive and duck between the heavy drums and thunderous bass lines. The unique combination of the two tempos propel "What You Sayin" into the realm of D&B elegance. Over the page, "Double Dipped" intros with tremendous breaks, spaced out pads and a double bass that's far too easy to get lost in.

Review: Veteran Jungle professors Total Science continue their fruitful production partnership with the prodigious whippersnapper known as S.P.Y. - dropping two more cuts of pressure on this rather smart looking clear yellow ten inch. "Stay" will have the jungle purists all misty eyed with thick gloopy bass excursions reverberating from the nether regions amidst a delicious steppah's riddim augmented by evil sub bass deviations - a superlative example of drum and bass at its most dark and danceable. On the flip "Cast Away" proves just as crucial, laying down a dubbier rhythm over sprawling Detroit chords and tinny beats before dropping into the core segment of f***ed up, growling machine funk. Every bit as worthy as their recent Ghost Rider drop.

Review: Basher made all the right noises on his debut way back in 2006 with the superlative Leachcraft for Ram sister label, Frequency. Following a number of killer drops on both the aforementioned plus Sudden Def and Mastermind, the London based producer recently unveiled his debut LP for Andy C's genre defining imprint. Those who indulged in Transmission will know how good it is, pairing classic D&B aesthetics with contemporary production tricks - for those unsure this four track sampler spread across two twelves should be very persuasive. Opening track "Xerox" does the most talking, presenting some upfront dancefloor dynamism that's made all the better by the vocal turn from Xtrah.