Mondays at the office aren’t quite so bad when you know there is going to be a fresh influx of sexy new drum & bass releases mingling round the download store showing off their bountiful basslines and suggestive drum patterns. Perhaps even a saucy little sample. And this is my pick of the week.
To spread some current drum & bass love outside of D&BA HQ, I will be selecting my personal faves from each week’s slew of releases with a little line on why they deserve to reach your ear holes.
Makoto – Tower of Love (Human Elements)
Japanese genius Makoto combines his love of soul music – check out his Human Elements podcast for his extensive range of retro beauties – with his flair for engaging, mellow drums. Features stunning vocal turns from Paul Randolph and Angela Johnson and suggests massive things for his mixed-genre (but still d&b-focused LP) ‘Souled Out’ landing on the 10th of October.
Serial Killaz – Send Dem / Authentic (Titan Records)
Always had a lot of love for the Serial Killaz ever since the first time I heard their ragga-jungle Full Metal Jack Up Mix, . Now 100 listens of that mix later and a few years on, their tracks still never fail to put a smile on my face. Even now as they depart from the reggae vocal remix for which they are so well-loved for a hugely successful release on Titan Records (run by the wonderful A.M.C with assistance from our very own The Risky). Radio 1 boy Zane Lowe even picked Send Dem to be his “D&B Next Hype” track. Nice of him.
Need For Mirrors – Lo Walk / Traction (Dispatch)
Need For Mirrors have that kind of effortlessly intellectual yet intense vibe that has as much appeal for the chinstroker as it does to the dancefloor rumbler. High production value is entailed in this dark, shamanic atmosphere, and considering their recent releases on their own new label Zoltar, Integral, Samurai Red Seal and V Recordings (and a certain worst-kept-secret EP on my favourite label coming soon), I think it’s fair to say that NFM are winning at life.
Callide, Decimal Bass, Voltage, Soul Method, Virtue – The Motions EP (Stilla Audio)
Callide’s liquid d&b collective Stilla Audio has come out with a solid EP of soulful liquid with a hard centre. Decimal Bass’s track (who is killing it with all sorts of neither-here-nor-there production at the moment I might add) also has an unbelievably ear-pleasing vocal. The record sits comfortably on the genre lines between a few strands of d&b and offers six highly distinct but universally interesting tracks.
Sam KDC – Marine Light (Auxillary)
Sam KDC has been impressing me recently with his tracks on Eveson’s label Channel 82 and Deep Soul Music, and his deep and mournful, experimental production on this latest EP is taking it further. Probably will remind you of Bonobo. Warning: there are no breaks on here. But if you like ambient/experimental you will lap this up like an alcoholic camel.
That’s yer lot. You’ll definitely be wanting to have a look next Monday because I will have a LOT to say about Calibre’s next album ‘Condition’, out 3rd October on Signature.
Also in the news, Camo & Krooked are releasing their full length on Hospital, Sigma release their Night & Day EP and BBK smash out a Bass Music compilation. Oh I say.
Have a look at everything New In on the DL store here.