Vinyl Fanatiks Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Big Bud originally released Faceless/New Vision back in 1995 on Underdog Recordings, offering up a weighty variant of atmospheric d&b that he made his own. As you might expect OG copies of this mid-decade change hands for some hefty sums, but fear not because Vinyl Fanatiks are on hand with a spanking new pressing on pink vinyl no less. A side 'Faceless' is a laser-focused roller with tightly clipped breaks and strafing synths, but 'New Vision' is the real gem which gets more intricate in the drum programming, drawing on less heavily mined percussion and more artful synth work to make a truly standout cut.

Review: Spirits From An Urban Jungle were a jungle supergroup comprising of JMJ (EZ Rollers) & Richie and Tekniq, who between them continued to release music through the 90s and 00s on scene stalwarts such as Moving Shadow, Formation and Good Looking. But the group itself only had two releases back in 1994 on White House Records before they disbanded. Urban Decay EP is their second and final release - a blitzing four-tracker in their own patented mode of spitting, classic early junglism. With distinctive anti-deforestation and anti-civ themes, it's a much-sought gem for a good reason; its sound - from the soul coos on 'Retribution' to the voxpops on 'Inhabitants Of Pandemonium' - is spiritual, seeming to hark back to a prehistoric age.

Review: Vinyl Fanatiks take us back in time once again with this powerful slab of early jungle justice from 1994. Previously released on Monita's Skelton Records, which was launched in 1992 and played an influential role in the burgeoning jungle sound, both cuts pack an incredibly timeless punch. 'The Razors Edge' was nodding at Reinforced but doing its own cosmic thing with massive pans and huge layers of space. 'Full Cry' tolls the bells with its alien stabs, stop/start motion and twisted tension. Forever future.