Review: Those interested in the roots of UK bass music have been well-served of late, with a number of books and compilations focusing on the first wave of British dance music in the late 80s and early 90s. Soul Jazz's latest compilation is a superb addition to this growing list. It showcases music made in the post-bleep and early breakbeat hardcore period, where basslines got bigger, drum breaks faster, and ragga influences started to come to the fore. The selections are on-point throughout from the dub-wise rave rush of Babylon Timewarp's "Durban Poison" and the bleep-and-breaks-meets-proto-jungle shuffle of DJ Dubplate's "Tings A Go On", to the rave-rap goodness of The Freaky's "Time & Age" and the heavily edited darkcore/early jungle insanity that is Krome & Time's terrific "Ganja Man". In a word: essential.
Review: After a brief pause to allow their frankly huge 36-track VA compilation to sit and breathe a while, Motive Hunter Audio is back at the sharp end of the jungle scene with this new EP from the brilliant ARKYN. It's a lovely slab of grey wax that revives a blend of hardcore jungle techno that is not for the faint of heart and comes with a tasteful homage to this subgenre's roots. Packed with piano stabs and 4x4 kicks, the EP delivers controlled mayhem that is perfect for the club as collaborations with SYNTAX, DJ B, and ARKYN's alter-ego DJ TUF all bring depth and hints of early Dutch rave influences.
Review: This new release, ACID Thing, from legendary acid house man EBY pays homage to the classic acid sound while infusing it with modern twists. It has been put together across three different coloured vinyl 12"s - this is the grey, white and black splattered vinyl version - to celebrate an impressive 40 years in the game on Foxbam Inc. One cut 'Acidanus' features MC Soph, who debuted on Acid Indigestion Pt4 at age eight and now returns at 25. The EP also includes a remix of 'Eggtrip' by renowned Belgian producer Outlander and a superbly bright, arresting acid opener in the form of 'Bun Da Acid.'
Review: On Curve 1, Mura Masa takes a detour from pop-infused collaborations and returns to his roots with a record steeped in the spirit of club culture. Released on his own Pond Recordings, this fourth album is a statement of independence, reflecting both a shift in direction and a rejection of the narrative-heavy, hyper-commercialised approach that has often surrounded modern music releases. Curve 1 is enigmatic, playful, and ambiguousidesigned to resonate in both solitary listening sessions and the intensity of packed, sweat-drenched dancefloors. Mura Masa describes the album as a manifestation of a personal philosophy: to ignore the noise of the attention economy and focus on what truly matters. In this light, Curve 1 becomes more than an albumiit's an invitation for listeners to strip away preconceptions and find their own meaning within its layers. Tracks bounce between euphoric highs and introspective moments, leaving plenty of space for tension and release. With the launch of his own label and creative space in Peckham, Mura Masa continues to position himself at the heart of youth culture, pushing boundaries and fostering new talent. Curve 1 marks the beginning of this new chapter, full of possibilities and free from convention.
Review: Parade's 'Parade 004' bursts with high-energy, classic breakbeat vibes, perfectly crafted for fans of rave anthems. Side-1 kicks off with 'Austria', a high-octane track that fuses uplifting piano riffs with a driving beat, embodying peak 90s rave energy. It's the kind of track that fills a dancefloor, blending nostalgia with fresh, invigorating production. Side-2 dives deeper with 'Heartbeat' and 'Higher', both loaded with feel-good, jungle-tinged piano lines that bring a pure, euphoric lift. These tracks capture the essence of breakbeat's roots, while infusing it with a modern twist that keeps things exciting. Parade manages to be both a celebration of breakbeat's legacy and a re-energised take for today's dance sceneiideal for anyone looking to relive or discover that classic sound.
Review: Snapping necks, frying minds, taking names - Thuggy Widdz is on an absolute roll this year thanks to his recent album on Western Lore, his release on Hooversound and now this massive four piece on the burgeoning Badlands imprint. You should know the vibe by now; brazen breakbeat choppage and high energy rave flavours across the spectrum. Highlights here include the walloping emotion of 'Whale Song' and pure venom of 'Archetypical'. Savage.
Review: We already knew what a talented and innovative producer FFF has proven himself to be, but on his new and much awaited album Eternal Mind he finds new heights even by his own high standards. He wastes no time in sweeping you off your feet with some electrifying synth work and almost juke like drum programming on the opener 'Axehead' and from there explores all manner of drum & bass sound worlds, from minimal steppers like 'Magnetic Mountain' to cosmic future funk workouts such as 'What We Once Where' and on to ice cold and warp speed gems like 'Curve of Forgetting.' Sensational work.
Review: Previously operating as Deadly Nightshade, Stuart Brown ignites a brand new alias for this fantastic Kniteforce debut 'Outer Limits'. A love letter to the primordial hardcore soup of the early 90s, each cut flexes a different tempo and vibe as he pays homage to a different shade of hardcore/jungle/techno. 'The Pulse' sounds like something that would have come out of the Jack Smooth HQ in 1991, all rampant pace, heavy kicks and lush pianos. 'Into The Unknown' hits with a Blapps Posse style swagger. 'Feel The Bass' is pure UK hardcore breaks with big Belgian sweeps while 'Memories In Time' brings us to a Subliminal Cuts style euphoric finale. Authentic to the core; keep your finger on this guy!
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