The 'Cubic' Takeover - Drum&BassArena

WAR is upon us.

That’s right: Worldwide Audio Recordings. the moody, highly-strung, more reserved younger cousin of Technique Recordings. Who happens to be wearing a flak vest. And the latest salvo from the camp? The Cubic ep: compact, fat free, sinewy D&B incoming from a number of global angles.

Kronology, MaxNRG, North Base, Erb n Dub, Gradual and Infrasonic all form a part. So we thought…

Why speak to just one contributor? We went IN with the entire crew… imagine it’s around a big table.

Starting with the voice from the top.

This ep is shockingly good: how did it all come to be?

Drumsound & Bassline Smith/Simon Basically, we had this vision of having six tracks forming an EP.

Each track is unique in style but together they are forming one whole and so the Cubic EP was born.

The artists were handpicked because they’re doing really good things with their respective productions at the moment.

Over to the crew. Can you respectively take us through some beats here? Kronology?

Kronology (below) Our tune ‘Vertigo’ is a big, dramatic bassline rollercoaster, topped off with a hook that we hope will lodge itself in your head and refuse to leave!

Our label-mates MaxNRG and Erb n Dub keep the heaviness going with two upfront bangers that are sure to go off in the clubs.

We’re really feeling the North Base track ‘Extrimus’ and it’s catchy, subtle melody. Gradual come correct with some serious filth on ‘Psychodelicious’ before Infrasonik wrap things up with a funk workout in ‘The Horror’.

MaxNRG All tracks are really good, have rave energy and nice sound. It’s a significant presentation of the current Technique Recordings sound.

MaxNRG, what’s the scene like over in the Ukraine? I know some cool producers from there. It sounds great.

MaxNRG (below) You know, we have a very difficult situation in Ukraine in general at the moment. To be honest it’s not the best time for the D&B scene, but we believe that the hardest time has passed.

Such names as Derrick & Tonika, Paimon – a third of Teddy Killerz; Aggressor Bunx, Nickbee, Sunchase and many more are known worldwide and there’s more to go!

And your take on the ep?

All tracks are really good, have rave energy and nice sound. It’s a significant presentation of the current Technique Recordings sound.

North Base, you have predictably demolished the spot here: love the synth lead on your tune and just the roll on it. Can you give us some thoughts on the track?

North Base We started this track a while back now wanted to make something edgy and different at the time. We wanted the bass to morph throughout the track to give it that eerie soundscape and sci-fi approach.

Austria steps up – another country with amazing D&B credentials – with something pretty blinding! Take us behind the scenes, Infrasonik for people new to the name?

Infrasonik (below) The DNB scene over here is really big at the moment.

Artists like Camo & Krooked, Mefjus, Fourward, Body & Soul, DKay – to name a few – raised the Austrian scene to its level, so big up to all of them!

Our story began with our solo-projects Dossa, Locuzzed and NiceAdvice.

One day we talked about making a track together, which worked really well. So in the end we decided to launch this new project called ‘Infrasonik’.

What is it about D&B that keeps it on fire, globally? a general one.

Erb N Dub (below) Versatility is the key to DNB’s success.

Consistently evolving new styles within the genre and and the production skills continue to go through the roof.

Kronology One of the things that keeps D&B growing globally is its diversity.

There are so many different types of Drum & Bass, and the genre has the ability to incorporate elements of literally any other kind of music.

As the genre grows worldwide, each country is developing their own unique sound, which is really nice to see.

North Base I think it’s down to the raw energy of the music and it’s diversity that keeps D&B on fire. Globally it has been gaining more and more attention.

Load of new producers from different countries are now making Drum & Bass.

This is only a good thing as it will help the music to grow even stronger.

GRADUAL (below) The great variety of subgenres that combines a great quantity of music genres, from acoustic to electronic music.

That’s why D&B has so many followers around the whole world and why it’s the leading music genre for us.

MaxNRG I believe that the energy and flexibility of dnb keeps it on fire for more than twenty years.

Infrasonik It’s the power, the variation, the surprise and the movement of sound that we love about it. There are so many subgenres of it, and you can transfer any vibe into D&B. That’s what makes it so interesting!

Back to the Cubic ep: what are some tracks you’d talk about from the ep, Infrasonik?

OK… so there’s Gradual’s ‘Psychodelicious’. This one’s a nightmare of stepped basslines and awesome beats.

We like the neurofunk-vibes in this.

Erb n Dub, as usual delivers a beast! Very good Reecey bass in combination with solid drums and arp elements. Good one to keep up the pace in a set.

We think ‘Extrimus’ by North Base is the most melodic and mystical tune of the EP. Very good sounddesign especially the atmospheres and the backgrounds are awesome.

‘50,000’ stands for heavy bass duty. Once started it can’t be slowed down. Liked the arrangement on this one by MaxNRG. And ‘Vertigo’: Our overseas companions Kronology joined the Cubic EP with a banger. We liked the way they combined heavy bass and melody.

Nice work of all artists!

Over to you, Gradual? What’s your take on the ep’s tracks?

From Kronology ‘Vertigo’: The name says it all. Beautiful voices and arpegiator in the intro, dizzily dropping into frenetic drums. Great development!

MaxNRG’s tune is a real banger, heavy rhythm with killer stabs and powerful beats. 50.000 watts of funky hip hop power!

Erb’n’Dub’s ‘Payback’ is a song in continuous change; pure madness at bass, stabs percussions, transitions. Press play and kill the dancefloor!

Gradual’s ‘Psychodelicious’: Judge yourself! Our favorite part of the track is the transition to the second drop.

‘Extrimus’ is simply envelope bass melody with awesome stereo Fx and also great stabs from North Base. A track that transmits a lot of feeling!

And ‘The Horror’ by Infrasonik… a Neuro groove in this one, one of our favorites from the EP. Crazy bass riff combined with nice digital bells and powerful drums complete this great EP.

OK so we seeing any live nights to rep this?

Erb N Dub Yeah, I have some wicked shows coming up this Christmas & New Year, a tour of the alps in the pipeline for January as well as Bristol and some other European dates coming in fast.

Infrasonik Technique Recordings are currently planning a ‘Technique Takeover’ tour. So chances are high to hear this sound.

North Base Yeah, loads of nights from Metropolis, UKF, Hospital, Masters Of Drum & Bass, 45 Filters are all being diverse in their line-ups! You can get all different artists within this genre of music, which does not make it generic any more.

GRADUAL Of course, we are going to drop some tracks from the Cubic EP and you will certainly hear them on dance floors around the world.

MaxNRG Oh yes, I presented Cubic EP on Halloween and the crowd’s response was great!

Anything to add to this discussion?

Erb N Dub Yeah I’ve cut my dreads off!

& what track are you into right now, Technique-related?

Erb N Dub ‘Ladies Night VIP’ Drumsound & Bassline Smith Remix. It’s a beast of a track! Aggy as F*** but still something the crowds can dance too. Such a killer remix!!!

And what are some other final words?

Kronology We’re very proud to be a part of this EP; the artists involved are all putting out great music, and it’s an honour to rep Technique and Worldwide Audio with them on this release!

North Base (below) Look out for our Polarity ep forthcoming on Viper Recordings in December featuring Ragga Twins, Trei, Cynematic and Mitch Dowd.

Plus loads of new music to look out for in 2016 on Hospital, Shogun Audio, Renegade Hardware, Audioporn, Nemesis Recordings and Viper again of course!