Drum & Bass Recommendations May 2012

Review: Sub Focus made his comeback on Hospital this year and it couldn't have come soon enough, being in dire need of some of his signature drum breaks and electro-filtered synth lines. The original mix features Alice Gold's spiritual and soothing vocals, riding its beats like a galloping train, while on the B-side, wobble meister Xilent unleashes his fury in the form of squealing, relentless drum stabs and bass howls.

Review: Brazil's DJ Marky is one of the few D&B guys still nurturing and developing his sound. It's a delicate mix of exotic, samba-filtered melodies and stunningly beautiful drum arrangements. The title track is exactly what we like to see: shuffling drums, esoteric melodies and suave lyrics. On the flip, "Love Affair" is similarly enchanting and Marky once-again proves everyone wrong by doing what he loves best. TIP!

Review: Commercial Suicide boss Klute steps forth for the label's latest offering, serving up two collaborative productions either side of this twelve inch. "Keep It Simple" has Klute joining forces with the perma impressive dark side soldier Prolix, and the results are simply great, with the track dealing in intricate melodies, tapping beats and throbbing bass with plenty of punch in the long build-ups and weighty drops. On the flip, Silent Witness has joined Klute behind the buttons for "Friendless" - a darker and possibly stronger accompaniment, with an eerie intro, rattling breaks and tremendous drop with an Ed Rush & Optical style pounding bass, groaning subs and thunderous applause.

Review: Whilst Joe Goddard's attentions have since turned back to his day job as affable foil to Alexis Taylor with Hot Chip, the enduring qualities of summer solo hit "Gabriel" refuse to go away quietly, with Soulwax providing a high profile remix of the track on this remix 12". The Dewaele brothers' remix retains only Valentina's fragile voice amid the sort of acid techno madness they grew up on, but it's the Calibre version that really impresses, flipping the track into a heavy stepping drum and bass rhythm that matches the delicate vocals with piano tones of equal measure.

Review: This should attract attention just on its fantastic title alone. We wanted to tell you all the vicious bass grunts and snarly, scratchy samples that lurk in and around the utterly pulverising kicks and congas on "Potty Mouth" are actually incredibly well processed recordings of swearwords muttered by Silent Witness himself. But he's asked us not to, so please keep that under your hat. Track two "Things Are Bad" is a brand new D&B doomsday device that opens with an emphatic, breathy, almost-epic intro before undiluted bass terror takes over. An absolute slayer of a track; Silent Witness's credit in the bank of dark beats just keeps getting stronger and stronger.

Review: Necessary Bass come correct with their second vinyl drop, representing both the foundations of jungle and the new school with two variants on a theme, as both Marcus Visionary and Frisk are welcomed back to drop alternate takes on "Standard". The A Side has Liondub International boss Visionary parading the latest in a long line of collaborations with toasters as UK reggae lynchpin Mr Williamz drops some dread knowledge over a crisp, skanking roller of a jungle groove. Flipside and Liverpool's Frisk brings the bombast with a relentlessly pressurised Dubplate Jungle remix featuring the iconic spitting skills of Million Stylez that will have you reaching for the lighters.

Review: Recently nominated as for the excellent My Favourite DJ feature by Dutch duo June Miller, Loxy's standing in the drum and bass community means this innovative London based producer requires little introduction. League Of Shadows marks the latest chapter in Loxy's ongoing series of collaborations with Finnish producer Resound, which most recently saw the two drop the excellent Burning Shadows LP on Exit Records. This two track limited edition red ten inch displays two distinct styles to the Loxy & Resound palette, with the title track deftly combining real life jungle atmospherics with brittle, pressurised rhythms that scrape inside your dome piece. "Metro" is far ruder, all heavy stepping drums and strains of purple funk veering off into the darkest recesses of mid range heavy rave with aplomb.

Review: It is not often we are blessed with a Dillinja release but the time, it seems, is nigh, as the Valve boss and legendary D&B-ster brings us his brand new single on his own label. "Time For You" heads up the release and is a sublime vocal-driven slice of goodness, featuring vocalist Tate Williams. Pairing Dillinja's ear for a heavy bassline with a more accessible sound, bleepy synth work and some vocodered sections, this one should see mass appeal. "Play Away", its accompanying counterpart, sees a stabbing bassline with squeaky squiggles of synth, crisp, punchy drums and a more playful tone throughout.

Review: Fresh drop on the Soul R imprint from label boss Marcus Intalex which fully demonstrates his recent endeavours under the Trevino alias haven't dampened his spirit for hard stepping drum and bass productions. It seems like the studio time concentrating on different rhythmic endeavours has benefitted Kaye, as "Sell Your Soul" is quite superb. Delicate strains of jazz-indebted instrumentation make for the perfect introduction, down trodden analogue touches signalling the onset of the drop. The moment those fragile vocals arrive and the rough hewn drums slip into line with the shuddering bass is inspired. To add some contrast, Kaye goes darkside on "Guillotine" with a bass line delivery that few people will be prepared for. Witness the sickness!