New releases last four weeks: Drum And Bass

Review: Bristol producer Arcane makes a monumental debut on Over/Shadow here with four tracks that have Brady caused plenty of carnage on global dancefloors. 'Minotaur' kicks off with a flurry of snares that are so snappy they will break your neck. 'Execute' is another dense packed rhythmic workout with blasts of horn, dark bass and drilling drum work while 'Warriah' then floats above then dancelfoor with its paranoid pads and stepping broken beat rhythms. This most high impact and physical of EPs shuts down with 'Spirit Chaser', a more pad laced cut but one that is no less driving.

Review: Originally released in 1994 and now reissued in 2024, confirming the resurgence of interest in the classic jungle sound, 'Watch Out' is a hard-hitting jungle track with a relentless 'Amen' break, while 'Media' offers a more complex and atmospheric soundscape with a deep, broken bassline.. 'Watch Out' immediately grabs attention with its pounding bassline and heavy drums, the tribal percussion adding an exotic flavor, while the heavy Amen break provides the relentless drive that characterises jungle at its best. The track is relentless and hypnotic, perfectly capturing the energy of the early scene. 'Media,' in contrast, is a more experimental tune. The jungle breakbeats are present, but they are more subdued, providing a backdrop for the track's deep bass notes. Together, 'Watch Out' and 'Media' offer a snapshot of the golden era of jungle music. They are essential listening for anyone interested in the genre's roots and its continuing evolution.

Review: Waveforms is as a brand-new label from ASC and Presha who are already well known and respected for their work with Spatial/Auxiliary and Samurai Music. It's a new outlet that will specially tap into the sounds of 90s jungle and serve up new tunes on 10". Tim Reaper has been behind one, and Eusebeia is now on this one on blue-marbled vinyl. A-side cut 'Waveform 05' is a cavernous cut with pulsing bass and spine chillingly ethereal vocals up top while 'Waveform 06' keeps the pressure on with more throwback jungle realness and unrelenting breakbeat pressure.

Review: Holsten makes a fine impression here with his debut EP on Rupture LDN. It's a drum & bass excursion that operates at the darker and menacing end of the spectrum and opens with the eerie bell hits of 'All Talk' (feat Overlook). Thrilling breaks soon take over as the turbulence synths grow ever more wild and 'Stallion' then mixes up fizzing synth chaos with tight, kinetic drum programming. On the B-side, 'Understand' is another tough drum workout with haunting pads, and 'One Step Closer' shuts down with withering sci-fi motifs and a seriously wobbly low end.

Review: Law & Auder's latest release, Big It Up/Boomstick, is a two-track EP that showcases their unique blend of jungle and liquid drum and bass. The A-side, 'Big It Up,' is a high-energy track with a fun, reggaeton-inspired melody and plenty of samples. The B-side, 'Boomstick,' is a more atmospheric track with an eerie melody, a big Amen break, and a deep, throbbing bassline. Law And Auder's production skills and their ability to create music that is both danceable and thought-provoking. This record gives major old skool hardcore vibes.

Review: In the realm of electronic music, Silver Fox's Dread by Dawn emerges as a captivating time capsule from the golden age of jungle and hardcore. Originally released in 1993 and meticulously reissued in 2024, this rare gem has lost none of its potency. The album's four tracks exude a haunting and otherworldly atmosphere, characterized by ominous doom-infused soundscapes and unmistakable jungle and hardcore rhythms. Central to the album's allure is its masterful utilization of the iconic "amen break," a drum loop that has become synonymous with the genre. Silver Fox weaves this pulsating rhythm into a mesmerizing tapestry of dark and melodic samples, including ethereal voices and haunting sci-fi elements. The result is a deeply hypnotic and immersive listening experience that transports listeners back to the halcyon days of electronic music's boundary-pushing experiments.

Review: .Stepping into spring with true style and just the right amount of nostalgic sass, unpredictable Finnish artist Otto Taimela follows a string of techno dispatches with this sublime four track jungle narrative that's perfect the sunnier seasons. With its lively, unkempt edits and jumps, 'Sunflower' has a powerful warmth of a timeless jungle dancefloor tune while carrying a certain amount of nostalgic IDM haze. It's a vibe which is maintained throughout the EP; 'Sunwarmed Window' has a dreamier edge that wouldn't have gone amiss on Warp at any point during the early to mid-90s, 'Sunshine Reloading' rides a much busier drums palette while 'Imagined U' brings us back down to earth with a gentle beatless ambient kiss. Stunning.