Podcasts – The Month In Drum & Bass

Time for April’s edition of “The Month In Drum & Bass” !

Download here —> https://themonthindrumandbass.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/code-the_month_in_db-april_20131.mp3

Here’s the Tracklist :

1. Adam Elemental – Games We Play (Runtime Bandcamp)
2. Mixmaster Doc – Never Loved You (Driven AM)
3. Fracture – Gangbusters (Metalheadz)
4. Krust – Transparency (Rebel Instinct)
5. Justice & Metro – Bosco (Modern Urban Jazz)
6. Thing – Sliding Beauty (Dubthing)
7. Nic TVG – These Other Thoughts (Pinecone Moonshine)
8. The Untouchables – Dem Pirates (Translation)
9. Marukomu – Iridium (Protect Audio)
10. Nolige & Collectiv – The Replicant (Eastern Pressure)
11. Lynx & Hellrazor feat Bobby Esmond – Bobby Says (Runnins Theme) (Playaz)
12. Sumone – Rhythm Machine (Abstract Elements Remix) (Alphacut)
13. Decoder – D-Fect (Tech Itch Digital)
14. Nebula – Saturn (Scientific Wax Retro)
15. Naibu – Aurora (Horizons)
16. Parhelia – Nothern Empire (Camino Blue)

Let me quickly give you some reasons to check this months podcast in the form of several attention grabbing headlines !

“DJ KRUST RETURNS!”

“INFLUENTIAL DUBSTEP ARTIST REVERSES MIGRATION TREND TO MAKE D&B!”

‘THE BOY DONE GOOD – FRACTURE MAKES DEBUT ON METALHEADZ”

“JUSTICE & METRO’S OXYMORON IS JUST THAT, A DRUM & BASS ALBUM THAT SOUNDS LIKE ONE!”

“PLAYAZ RELEASE THEIR BEST MUSIC IN 10 YEARS”

“DECODER EP STILL SOUNDS FRESH 16 YEARS AFTER RELEASE DATE”

“MIXMAG PROCLAIMED CHAMPION OF JUNGLE PROVES WORTH”

... got yer attention ?! If so, let me expand a little on the above.

The mix up of April’s best D&B and Jungle releases kicks off with something of an oddity. Many fans of Drum & Bass will have noted how many of their favourite producers abandoned the music for the (perceived) financial incentive, artistic freedom and freshness offered by Dubstep, so it is refreshing to see that Adam Elemental, the man behind the influential Runtime Records has decided to switch things around and release some D&B for the first time since 1997. With “Games We Play” he shows there is plenty of room for deviancy at 170 bpm for all those who still doubt that.

The mix moves on to showcase South Carolina’s Mixmaster Doc, a man who has been steadily releasing quality beats for over 5 years now and so it seems the time is right for his debut album “That Now” on Driven AM. “Never Loved You” features ultra smooth chords and vocals but still packs a punch with a weighty sub-bass and tightly arranged apache groove, certainly one of my favourite cuts from the LP.

As mentioned in todays headlines (!) Metalheadz have just released a first 12′′ vinyl offering from Fracture of Astrophonica / Inperspective / Subtle Audio / Bassbin fame. I have to admit, I haven’t been too much of a fan of some of the juke influenced beats Fracture has been doing of late, but “Gangbusters” strikes a nice balance of influences that won me over. The flipside “Better Than Tomorrow” is good too, making this a value for money release all round.

And so, Krust is back ! Having been deafeningly quiet on the Drum & Bass front since the release of his last album “Hidden Knowledge” in 2006 it’s great to see him back and, more importantly, back on form ! His new label is called “Rebel Instinct” and the first release came out a few months ago. The second release, a 4 track EP was delivered mid-April and features Krust at his strange, off-key, dissonant best on “Transparency”. Also featured is an old dubplate favourite of Bryan Gee’s – “J.A.M”, which used to get play back in the late 90’s. It’s only finally seeing the light of day now ! Still, better late than never.

It was this time 3 years old that Justice & Metro dropped their first collaborative album “839” on the Modern Urban Jazz label. I really rated that release and when I heard the duo were planning a follow up I thought they’d have a hard time reproducing the standard. I need not have worried, their latest effort “Oxymoron” measures up...

Welcome to the first ever “Month In Drum & Bass” podcast. I think I picked a good time to start this series of mixes with so many good tunes being released last month.

Download here —> https://themonthindrumandbass.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/code-the_month_in_db-march_2013.mp3

Here’s the Tracklist :

1. Naibu – Aki VIP (Naibu Bandcamp)
2. S.T. Files & Response – Nailbomb (Ingredients)
3. Felix K – Forsaken (Apexx)
4. Actraiser – Dark Bride (Offworld)
5. Doc Scott – Paradise Lost (Soul Intent Remix) (Stepback Sessions Vol 4)
6. Digital & Spirit – Backlash (Remix) (Phantom Audio)
7. Infest – The One That Hides Us (Omni Music)
8. Seba – What’s Your Fantasy (Secret Operations)
9. Homemade Weapons & Gremlinz – Ruff Age (Architecture)
10. Rufige Kru – Vanilla VIP (Metalheadz – Free Download)
11. Dub One – The Spirit Within (Dub One Bandcamp)
12. Double O – Soul Warrior (Rupture London)
13. Dwarde – Algid (Scientific Wax Digital)
14. Fallen Angels (Alex Reece & Wax Doctor) – Taken Over (Creative Wax – Free Download)

The mix begins with a new VIP mix of Naibu’s classic “Aki”. It’s available right now from his bandcamp page. I’m not normally a fan of new mixes of old tunes, but there were a lot of good one’s in March and besides Naibu’s remix there are 3 other revamps in the mix. You can grab one of them “Vanilla VIP” by Goldie’s Rufige crew on the Metalheadz website absolutely free right now – check it. The Phantom Audio label has finally resurfaced and Digital & Spirit’s “Backlash” (the flipside to the massive “Phantom Force”) has been revisited and given a extra dollop of breakbeat and a few new twists and turns. Not wildly original, but good quality beats with a touch of class. Finally, Soul Intent pulls off the bravest remix for sometime by tackling Doc Scott’s “Paradise Lost”. This is a tune that still sounds fresh nearly 20 years after it’s original release on Reinforced Records (in 1994). With it’s distinctive machine-like snare rolls and overall off-kilter nature it might have proved too much for many producers but Soul Intent has really come up with the goods here – not just upping the tempo to match today’s norm but coming up with a genuinely fresh take on the original while maintaining the vibe. Hats off ! It’s available as a download on Volume 4 of the “Stepback Sessions”.

Okay, enough nostalgia ! There were also alot of new names bringing the beats in March. One of Holland’s breakbeat hero’s Infest just released his debut LP on the ever prolific Omni Music. With previous outings on Outsider Music, DSCI4, Eastern Promise and Repertoire and growing acclaim, the time was right for a full length album and it doesn’t disappoint. Check “The One That Hides Us” in the mix for evidence. Also watch for a forthcoming collaboration with Quasi on Subtle Audio in the next few months.

Dwarde is another fresh face on the scene and with a new release on Scientific Wax the only way is up from here on in – loving the synth riff on the amen rich “Algid”, a real throwback to the old days.

Berlin’s Felix K has been quietly getting along with his business over the last few years, running his own label “Hidden Hawaii” and releasing his own productions on labels such as Doc Scott’s 31 Records. His latest release is on Birmingham’s Apexx Recordings. It’s quite minimal but nice n bouncy (without being cheesy) – it’s a skill to make a simple idea seem interesting, and Felix does that here.

Actraiser is a name I wasn’t familiar with till recently despite having quite a few releases over the last few years. “Dark Bride” is a track taken from his “Drift Away” EP on Offworld Recordings – one of a handful of labels still promoting the atmospheric side of Drum & Bass. Really like this tune and will certainly be looking out for more from the Bristol man in the future.

Another new name (to me at least) – Homemade Weapons teamed up with Gremlinz (someone I’m alot more familiar with!) for a track on his Fallen EP. “Ruff Age” is a nice balance between traditional tech-y D&B and the more recent glitch-y advances we’ve been hearing ove...