Fokuz Recordings Holland Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Still riding high off the success of their album with Charlotte Haining back in May, BCEE now come back strong with a powerful EP on Dutch label Fokuz Recordings. It's 'Crystal' that opens in thoughtful fashion with bold bass notes and a crisp breakbeat that meanders as you get lost in a day dream. There's a more raw energy to 'Poodle Dub', while playful horns bring some colour. You head will be amongst the clouds as the lush chords of 'Love Drunk' are draped over a rolling break and airy vocals soar up top. 'Stitched Up' closes out with more crisp beats, and this time tumbling melodies that fall like rain.

Review: Based in The Netherlands, Fokuz Recordings has been a key drum & bass label since before the start of this current millennium. It does a wide range of styles from sold out in a flash r&b edits to rollers for the club. They have helped make the label head Focus a mainstay of the scene and now he's back with another top nugget on nice blue vinyl. 'Take Me As I Am' launches with hyper-speed breaks and ice-cold hi-hats before the lush and romantic 'Do 4 Love' soothes mind, body and soul. 'Long Way Up' is another one with a perfectly pitched r&b vocal sample and sleek beats before the pensive and late night, piano-laced cover of Depeche Mode that is 'Enjoy The Silence.'

Review: Rolling since the mid 90s and showing no signs of slowing, Swedish D&B maestro Seba bounces straight from his Ingaro LP on Secret Operations to deliver this retrospective of highly sought after classics on Fokuz. Seba originally released 'Dangerous Days' in 2009 backed by his remix of Polar's 'Hi Voltage', and both cuts of dreamy drum funk make a welcome return here, with the title track in particular being an immersive slice of ambient D&B to write home about. 'Metropolaris' and 'A Wonderful World' both came out a little further back in 2003, but they equally complement the other tracks with their soft-shaped synth tones and crisp, intricate beats.