We’ve been fans of Samba for a few years now and have been following his progress as he’s risen to become one of the most sought after producers in the Dubstep scene today. When Sam sent us this EP, we were instantly blown away by the music. Title track “Kings” has become a huge dubplate within the scene with support from dons like Commodo and Mala. To us the quite melodic 808 bassline harks back to early Good Looking records vibes, while the crisp fresh production and drumwork firmly places this release in 2019.
After over five years since we've released the first chapter, we are nearly ready to drop "Steppin' Forward" 2, which will be our final release of 2019. This time the compilation includes 16 previously unreleased tracks from 27 artists.
a1. Baodub ft. Jahvorem - Heavy
a2. D-Operation Drop - Lockdown
b1. Dubbing Sun & Blue Hill ft. Kali Green - Filtering Lies
b2. Halcyonic & G Roots Meets Digid ft. Vale - Enchanted Dub
b3. JahYu - Empowerment
c1. Lapo - Legalize VIP
c2. iSt3p - Steamroller
d1. Blind Prophet - Righteous Stepper
d2. WuduB!? & Irieginal Nutty Tree ft. Ras Tinny - Give Thanks
*Copies purchased through the UE store will receive a free full-colour Octa4 sticker printed on PVC plastic with spot-varnish layers*
Following a stellar run of jungle and breakbeat-oriented releases including the foundational Foul Play Origins set and the visionary proto-retro styles of X-Altera, Sneaker Social Club welcome a true master of drum science.
As Paradox and Alaska, Dev Pandya has been setting standards and breaking new ground in breakbeat hardcore, jungle and drum & bass since the dawn of the culture. He was right there at the start of Moving Shadow, has graced seminal labels like Reinforced, Good Looking and Metalheadz and steered his own Paradox Music, Esoteric and Arctic Music as vessels for a huge body of work. Still toting his Amiga for live gigs and putting out bonus 12”s loaded with samples for producers, Pandya’s passionate commitment to the culture is evident in everything he does. Nowhere does that shine through more than in his needlepoint flair for break editing and drum programming – the calling card of the Paradox sound.
It’s a huge honour to host two original Paradox tracks on Sneaker. We’re treated to full-fat Paradox percussion alchemy on “Octa4” as he teases out the intensity around a salvo of dancehall toasting samples, trickling each progressive layer of rhythm into the mix with the patience and poise of a true master. “Proceed” leans on dub techno atmospherics and a taut funk break that occasionally cuts loose into a ride-splashing fill, but once again the message here is one of heads-down restraint. Across both tracks the emphasis is on the fine print – each composed drum hit and subtle shift of FX – while riding deep in a masterfully constructed groove. Proof, if ever it were needed, why Pandya is the king of understated D&B excellence.
In the shadows of the Renaissance Centre in downtown Detroit 1979, producers Jimmy Hall and Ralph Leach founded independent record label Ren Cen Records. Predominately used as a outlet for their roaster of local artists, over a ten year period Jimmy & Ralph tried to make their name releasing anything from electro-boogie to synth pop and soul.
One of the first artists released on the label was Rita Joyce. Little is known about Rita and like many of the label’s other artists, this single was her only brush with a recording career. Dancing Close and Back Home Again are two incredibly powerful tracks with Rita’s voice effortlessly gliding across each track. Tough drums and a deep synth hook provides a concoction that has led to this single becoming highly sought-after by soul & hip-hop collectors alike.
Miles Away are delighted to reissue this deep cut once again on in its original 7” format. Remastered and repressed brandishing the Miles Away teal green label. The release is set for 19th February on vinyl & digital platforms.
After the huge success of the well-received Sacrifices EP by Distance, Belgian label DUPLOC keep the momentum hurtling at a blistering pace with the imminent arrival of Kuji EP, a rough and tough 4 track project from rising producer Mungk.
This EP marks the first solo release on the imprint for the Leeds-based artist who has been building his name over the past couple of years through a slew of highly exclusive, highly sought after and high-quality lathe-cut, vinyl only releases, all vibrating within the vast spectrum of Dub and sound system music.
His new EP certainly dwells within that same sonic universe but this time is taken to a new level, with a stark and impressive focus on Dubstep, Trap and Grime fundamentals.
Things kick off with title track Kuji, which duly earns its ‘banger’ status. Steeped in Eastern influence with it’s beautifully placed hypnotic & melodic vocal cuts set against gun finger raising UK Drill influenced low end & percussion. Next up we flow into Rajasthan which keeps us transfixed in the same vibe and style and mesmerises with its beautiful use of sub-continental instrumentation.
Flip the record and on the B side sits Puli Kali which keeps the Eastern flavours sizzling, this time plunging us into a halftime world of hard-hitting 808’s and crashing snares. Things are rounded off superbly by final track Macaque, a truly mystical track with one foot in old school Dubstep tradition and the other in this fine producer’s unique sound, it glides majestically like a bird of prey over a slowly fading, misty mountain range.
Higgler's third instalment is a must have in your Jungle Techno and Breakbeat arsenal. This is Yelsew’s Higglers debut delivering two tracks that fly the rave flag with great aptitude. This EP masterfully fuses the old with the new, creating two classic break techno DJ Tools.
Received radio support from “Interplanetary Criminal – NTS”, “Saoirse – BBC Radio 1” and “Andy Hackney – Rinse FM’
Coming up next on Art-E-Fax, US artist James Bangura reels off a 6-track EP of breakbeat treats to make your head nod. Don’t be fooled by its more cool-headed cuts: dubby pumpers like “Interpretive Dance” and “Incoherent Response” will have you oiling your rave gears (...or reaching for the phone.)
Holsten delivers an absolutely stunning debut four-track in the form of the ‘Sealed in Time’ EP on the DROOGS imprint. The EP follows a barrage of blistering singles, cutting through the noise of a busy genre. Holsten’s definition of modern jungle draws on over two decades of refinery of the sound, summoning the spirit of the dancefloor.
In 2019, ASC decided it was time to return to the music that he grew up on. With a gentle nudge from Presha, the breakbeats were back in the mix and a slew of mid 90’s-inspired drum & bass ensued. The majority of the heavier break-oriented and edit-ladened were set aside for projects with Samurai, however, there were a grip of tracks that were more at home with the older atmospheric / intelligent styles of drum & bass from the mid 90’s. Ideasthesia is the culmination of that work. Four tracks of atmospheric drum & bass in its most unadulterated form. No drum machines at work here, just sped up breakbeats, heavy 808 bass, blissful pads, and ethereal textures. Ideasthesia is a true love letter to a golden age of music which sadly seems long forgotten.
Two rising Russian names forge a Samurai flavoured alliance with 4 tracks of audio savagery. From the hefty impact of Ortum Ossa with its searing percussive roll, the combined stylistic signatures bounce off the constant kick drum pillars that propel each rhythm. A capsule collection of tribal half time club tools honed for maximum might.
Ten years is a long time, especially in music. Auxiliary started life purely as an outlet for ASC's music at the back end of the Autonomic movement. Since then, it's been through a number of changes, taking in a lot of different styles along the way, including Autonomic, drum & bass, ambient, downtempo, techno, Grey Area, and music that can only be defined as experimental in nature.
Emotion In Rhythm collects 8 tracks spread over 2 pieces of vinyl. Proceedings open with ASC's 'Honed Edge', a slice of cinematic Grey Area, with his trademark ethereal soundscapes. New signing Sciama takes up the mantle with the impressive brooding ominous tones of 'Foreque', before master of the void, Sam KDC, takes things up a notch with the impressively destructive 'Gordian Knot'. Up next is a new collaborative project by ASC & Semblance. For those of you who don't know, Semblance is Will Swann, who has helped run the label since 2014. 'Simulacra' is a hypnotic moody synth workout, which brings plate one to a close.
Plate two opens with another two collaborations by ASC & Sam KDC. First up is 'The Inevitable'. A seriously dark menacing slower groove that features clever rhythmic work the pair are known for since the invention of their Grey Area project. Following that, the pair don their Saturne guise for the heavyweight acidic 'Hypnosis'. An atypical Grey Area techno track that would have been right at home on 2017's 'Trace Elements' EP. ASC's 'Penrose Stairs' then takes it down a notch with it's mysterious melody and crashing sparse industrial percussion. Connections can be made to the anonymous Grey Area series of vinyl released between 2015-2017. This leads perfectly into the compilation closer by Synth Sense. Sadly, Synth Sense no longer produce music together, but their legacy on Auxiliary is such that we felt it was only right to include an unreleased gem from the Ashford pair in 'Broken Sword'. All of the hallmark SS techniques feature in a dark sci-fi narrative that puts a full stop at the end of the first ten years of the label.
Emotion In Rhythm cements Auxiliary's place as a label that defines the rules rather than following them. Here's to another ten years of pushing boundaries!
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