Review: After a brief pause to allow their frankly huge 36-track VA compilation to sit and breathe a while, Motive Hunter Audio is back at the sharp end of the jungle scene with this new EP from the brilliant ARKYN. It's a lovely slab of grey wax that revives a blend of hardcore jungle techno that is not for the faint of heart and comes with a tasteful homage to this subgenre's roots. Packed with piano stabs and 4x4 kicks, the EP delivers controlled mayhem that is perfect for the club as collaborations with SYNTAX, DJ B, and ARKYN's alter-ego DJ TUF all bring depth and hints of early Dutch rave influences.
Review: Everyone's talking and no-one is listening... Unless Chatta B is chewing your ear off with his militant breaks - because then we're all ears over here. Unleashing the ghosts of 93 with big sacks of sheesh and oh my gosh, each of these cuts hits hard with the neck-snap breaks and big hooky samples. 'Watch Out' sets the scene with energy, 'Real Badman Sound' goes full-on rudeboy, 'The Exit' is a big sing-along moment while 'Easy Take It Easy' sends us off into the sunset with mixed sentiments... The vocals are like a sweet rum punch while those rattling breaks on the rhythm are more like a tum punch. Talk to us.
Review: The latest Coco Bryce EP is different to much of his previous work, eschewing the retro-modern banger-science for something that edges much closer to liquid jungle. Fittingly for the style, an core theme on 'My Space' is that of personal dominion and interiors; like the reams of potential found in a family living room or kitchen, the tracks here are interpretable as everything from 'chill' to 'nostalgic' to 'creepy', depending on how you choose to hear them. The palette is eerie and objective, though Bryce's usual preference for unpolished joy shines through as ever in his choice of samples.
Review: Certain names in dance music do well to predict the future - and Digital Pressure is one such name. Originally released on A Guy Called Gerald's label Juice Box in 1993, this phonkout beast of an EP came via the joint efforts of producers SDR and Subsonic aka Adrian Lloyd and Kelly Bowers. The twizzling melody and tunefully sawing breaks delays that kick this one off reflect the "digital pressures" of today perhaps more so than it did back then; 'Watch Dis Space' and 'Strictly Drug Related' make unique use (for jungle) of glitching phone chip stinger sounds, reminiscent of the twinkly "coin get" sound effects one might hear on carting about an old Watara games unit. If only handheld games consoles and uncommonly sighted mobile phones were the extent of our digital woes; now we've a heck of a lot more to worry about, and doesn't the further ironically named 'Back 2 Da Future' know it with its Twilight Zone topline and clunky robo-vox! Limited run of 350.
Review: Seminal business: DJ Rap's 1995 anthem 'Intelligent Woman' remains one of the most relevant and iconic jungle tracks to this day and still demands a reload 27 years later. Fully backed up by a harder, more D&B-focused 2020 re-lick, Kniteforce pay respect to Rap and her influence on the drum & bass game with this long-awaited repress. Grab it and invest in a slice of serious history.
Review: Timeless hardcore breakbeat action as label newcomer DJ Stephano makes his debut on Luna C's seminal Kniteforce imprint. 'Heaven' sets the scene with all big flavours from the time; euphoric pianos, wild time-stretched drums and a feel good energy. Deeper into the EP we rave as 'Stella' takes us into deep space with its prowling arpeggio and alien-landing pads. Flip for more piano positivity and hardcore style pitched up vocals while 'Out There' brings the EP to a contemplative close. Classic Kniteforce tackle.
Review: The revered DJ Stephano delivers his signature unconventional style on this blistering new outing for Kiteforce and manages to skilfully blend and bend genres while maintaining a razor-sharp focus on fierce and innovative jungle beats. He is already well known for his unique use of samples and experimental formats, and again here Stephano manages to pay homage to old school jungle but also adds his own fresh twist. The result is Love, an EP packed with creative energy as well as plenty of clout for jungle heads old and new.
Review: OG rave producer DJ Terrace was half of the Hyper Crew with DJ Roughcut way back in the early 90s and it's clear he's never lost his touch as he continues to develop make his comeback moves on Kniteforce. As you'd expect, this whole EP is loaded with unruly breakbeat charm with big smiley samples. Highlights include the oceanic breaks and the pitched up vocal swing of 'Final Goodbye' and the snarling, hoover-blazed finale 'Toxic Rider' but the whole EP bangs like it's 30 years old if it's a day. Bumping.
Review: The mission-statement-and-artist-name Gabber Dub Project, from Germany, take on a bold undertaking. Doing exactly what is said on the tin, this six track explosion dispatches every possible topological contortion of what could be meant by "gabber dub", traversing transient styles from UK hardcore and hardstyle in the process. LXC, Zimmertime and Hurra Hurra offer terrifyingly shouty, jackhammering remixes checking off moods of militancy and warmongery, with 'Dubbersaet' sounding especially propagandistic, described as a "maximum amen workout", shortly before side B both hastens the pace and buries the vibe in shockingly six-foot-deep soil.
Review: From breaking out to breaking beats to Breaking Bass: Jailed Jamie reissues his 2020 'Jungle Tool' session and the world is once again a ravier place to be. All the fun of the fair guaranteed. Twisted acid and trippy squeaks? Check 'Drop It'. Need a little old school weirdness? Get into 'Crafstman'. Swaggering subby breaks? It's all about 'Asphyxia'. After a little introspection? 'Route To Nowhere' is your friend. But mainly it's all about the psy-laced cosmic techiness of the title track 'Junglist Tool'. Ironically if you sleep on this then some might consider you one, too
Review: This new one on Aphrodite Recordings offers a rare chance to own some previously unreleased hardcore history. Crafted by Urban Shakedown founders Aphrodite and Kaukuta, these two unreleased Moonwalk tracks date back to 1993. ever since they were made back then at the height of hardcore's popularity, though, they have remained forgotten on a DAT tape. After being recently rediscovered, they have been pressed up to this 12" with 'Meditation' offering a blitz of pulsating drums and funky bass, thrilling breaks and sci-fi melodies that reagin down the face of the track, while 'Outer Space' is more raw and direct with a menacing low end and plenty of kinetic drum programming.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.