Drum & Bass Recommendations September 2012

Review: A teaser purloined from his high-anticipated album, if these four tracks are anything to go by, we're in for a real treat. Eschewing the idea that Ray is only about the splintered Amens and that classic 'dread bass' sound, this collection tips a nod to myriad D&B styles while retaining the bass power and production panache he's always been revered for. "Monster" takes a classic N-Joi vocal from behind and gives it a bass massage it won't forget in a hurry, "I See The Future" is more of a stripped back, minimal scenario a la "Disco Dodo", "Galaxian Warrior" is a homage to both neuro and jump up while "Tronik" takes another well known vocal and gives it an even ruder bass massage.

Review: Dose continues his gritty onslaught on Subtitles with this cheeky white teaser. Two untitled tracks, that will likely lead to a full release later this month, if you know Doses's previous (especially his barnstorming bangers on Uprising, Fokuz and Samurai a few years back) then you'll know this is more or less essential. Conjuring the spirit of early Ed Rush & Optical with elements of more contemporary bass material from The Upbeats and Noisia both sides on this have undeniable potential to cause carnage on your dancefloor. Just have a little "Self Control" and don't rewind them too many times.

Review: Excerpts taken from Jumping Jack Frost's storming, funk-coated addition to Chronic's ever-reliable Big Bad & Heavy series, each of these four tracks will cause major tremors on your floor. "I Feel Strong" sees Dillinja donning his classic Capone mask for a ragga-tinged jump up fiasco, Ray Keith's classic "Who The Hell Am I" gets a savage junglisation by Serum, Nitri's "Break The System" coaxes us down a very dark alley and batters the living shizzle out of us while Critical Impact's "Spintop" speeds us right back to the old school without so much as a skid. Four distinct shades of big D&B in one heavy package.

Review: Sneakily leaked on white last week, "Fate" gets the full release and with it comes another two walloping examples of why SU is one of the most respected players in drum & bass. "Fate" snarls and gurgles with a borderline neuro feel, "First Snow" is much more uplifting thanks to a crescendo of vibrant synths and a feel good hook, "Higher" flips for a deeper, more contemplative groove as SU is ably assisted by the breathy tones of Mira, while "Disoriented" is a more contemporary, glitchy, off-kilter affair. Four cuts, each one a banger in its own distinctive right. Do you believe in "Fate"?

Review: After plenty of chatter, the highly anticipated Method To The Madness is almost upon us! To tease us furthermore the duo present two sizzling rollers that tick all manner of D&B boxes. "Murmur" is the prize fighter of the two. A collabo with equally respected D&B star Break, it switches and gurgles as we ride through more minimal grooves into a full fledged bass riff that mutates for the third time when a chilling vocal sample makes it way into the mix. Meanwhile on the B you'll find "Red Mist VIP", a collabo with Subterra and MC Gusto. A cool update on their 2010 banger, this will shred any discerning dancefloor.

Review: Blokhe4d's Bad Taste volumes never fail to pack a punch. Naturally numero five is no exception. If anything it's even more exciting thanks to some interesting new names on offer such as Urbandawn and Receptor. The former adds great texture to the Bad Taste annals with a deep, mood-massaging roller "Retrocasualty" while the latter teams up with the label head honchos themselves for a screaming, grizzly electro-fest "Bass Dust". And that's just two of six tunes on offer here. Bad to the bone and very, very tasteful.

Review: Uncompromising sounds abound on Jigsore once again. Fusing amens, IDM, gabba and jungle, not one of the four tracks on this disturbing-but-distinctive EP lets up for one nanosecond. As its name suggests, Lemon Drizlay Crew's "Killa Bees" is a true stinger with chops and cuts so ruthless it'll slice your ear if you listen too closely. DJ Osh Kosh and Ritorto's "M-Kat" is more a jungle influenced affair with sonorous hollow subs and madcap ragga vox thrown in for good measure. Jakub23's "My Eyes Hurt" is glitch gabba heaven while Spacedocker's "Kick In The Door" is more your heads down hardcore techno affair. If you've got a free party coming up, you'd be a total nincompoop not to take this with you.