Everyday Junglist

Introducing....Wagz

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Thu, 17 May 2012 09:47:00 +0000

If you make music, why do you do so - to find fame and fortune, or as creative release? If you're an up and coming artist, how do you stand out from the crowd in an ever increasing and competitive 'market place'? Two big considerations for any aspring (or established) producer, and two questions we pose to Sheffield based Wagz, who we catch up with for a chat about the music making process and more. Make sure to check the 'all Wagz' mini mix at the bottom of the feature to get a taste of his beats as well...

Introducing....Wagz

EDJ: So, seeing as this is an introductory feature, can you introduce yourself to the lovely readers of EDJ. How and why did you get inito D&B? How long have you been producing?

I'm Wagz, a DJ/producer based in Sheffield. I've been into DnB from about 95/96, I suppose it was just a progression from other types of music I was into at the time, hip hop, hardcore, breaks, but I've always had a very wide taste in music. I've been producing for about 6-7 years, but really started to focus on it more in the past few years, and DJing has kind of taken a back seat.

EDJ: See yourself as a Dj or producer first? Its a tired question but is there you one you prefer more than another, why so?

I started DJing first, back in 2000. I was going to clubs like NY Sushi and Tuesday Club at the time, and I wanted to get involved any way I could. I spent years pestering promoters with mix cd's and finally started getting gigs around Sheffield. Production came quite a bit later, as I stopped going out to clubs as much and felt more at home with producing. I can't really choose between the two as I love doing both, but the focus is definitely on production at the moment.

EDJ: A lot of people these days perhaps get into the production side of the scene to simply get themselves more bookings – dj’s are hardly recognised for the skills behind the decks alone these days so it seems to be a must if you want to be gigging regularly. What you do make of that slightly cynical outlook? True you think? Do you not think that this set up and attitude amongst many producers has lead to an overall degradation and stagnation of the music?

Yeah I think that's true, more so for DnB than most other scenes. Unless you can scratch or start throwing in double drops all over the place there's not really much a DnB DJ can do technically to stand out from the crowd, and that's why they need their own tunes behind them to get bookings. It definitely had an influence on me and pushed me towards production more. It's just the way DnB has always been, and as long as the producer can actually DJ then that's fine. But there's nothing worse than paying money to see a producer who can't even mix properly. Being a DJ definitely makes you more critical though, and I'm sure the average raver doesn't even notice if someone can't beatmatch. I'm not sure if that's lead to degrade the music in any way, there's always going to be shit music out there regardless, but there's always quality as well. DnB has splintered off into so many factions now there's kind of a safety net for type of music you'll hear at certain events, for example I doubt you'd hear a Sub Focus tune at Soul:ution or a Blu Mar Ten tune at Innovation. It's a bit of a shame though, because when I first started going to clubs you didn't have that, it was just Drum & Bass. There's that many sub-genres now I don't even know which ones are which.

EDJ: In the same way that every man and his dog can ‘dj’ these days, the proliferation of music making technology and the vast knowledge available to everyone on the how/what/why of it all is kind of leading to the same sort of situation with producing now...would you agree with that?

When it comes to making music - how it was made shouldn't matter, it's all about the final product. I don't care if someone made a track on an i-Phone, if the tune good then it's good. There are far too many people getting bogged down in the technical side of things, and forgetting about the creativity. Personally it's had an impact on me as there's been several times I've doubted about carrying on making music because I just don't understand the technical side of things, and I thought that would ultimately stop me from getting anywhere with it. Now I'm not saying my production skills are of any kind of high standard; far from it, but I'd like to think people enjoy my tunes for how they make them feel, not how loud the mix down is or how the snare is EQ'd. I think of myself as someone that makes music, not a studio engineer. I'm not saying the technical side is not important, of course tracks need to be of a certain standard of production, but I think there needs to be a balance between ideas and execution. I'm coming from a more musical DnB side of things though, and I'm sure if I was out raving more my opinions might be different. As I've got older my personal tastes and the type of music I'm trying to make has definitely changed, and I'm more into music that can be listened to at home or on the move. I don't think of DnB as strictly dance music any more, there's far more to it than that, and whilst I still do love a lot of the dance floor stuff, I'm more interested in the deeper/soulful side of things. I also think there's far too much discussion on what DAW people use, and which is better, especially on DnB forums. I'm all for people sharing ideas and I have learnt quite a bit on production from forums, but ultimately they just turn into a slanging match, usually Logic vs Reason or some variation. It's just the same as people arguing PS3 over X-Box - it's pointless, use whatever suits you best, it really doesn’t matter. If these people spent as much time on their DAW of choice instead of slagging each other off they might actually get somewhere. Rant over.

EDJ: How do you go about trying to set yourself apart from the masses? And if the above is true, what do you reckon the next step will be? You have be a dj/producer/label owner/promoter all rolled into one? Too much for anyone surely? Where do you think the abalance lies?

To be honest I don't really think that much into it, I'm just trying to concentrate on making music and hopefully the next step will follow on naturally. Maybe if I had a plan I might have actually had a tune released by now!!! I'm certainly not thinking any further than being a dj/producer. I've no idea about how a label works, and I've tried my hand at promoting and am a few hundred quid down as a result.

EDJ: Would you say you have a sound, or at least a vibe or groove you aim for in your tracks – what is that?

I usually try to convey some kind of emotion in the track; it's got to have some feeling to it. I think films and film soundtracks have had a big influence on that. I like the idea that a song could be used at a certain scene in a film to emphasise what the viewer should be feeling. I occasionally try to make simple dance floor tracks, but I find I need a sample or groove to work around, and from that the track always develops into something more, and usually becomes more musical as a result.

EDJ: I first got wind of your stuff when you hit me up and year or so ago, and have to say (without sounding tooo patronising) that you have come on leaps and bounds in terms of your production in that time – what do you attribute that to? New kit, new techniques, a new outlook, or simply hard work, practice and patience? (or a combination of all of course).

That's not patronising at all, like I said I know I'm quite a way off in terms of levels of production so to hear that is reassuring. Any developments are just down to practice and patience. Personally it can take me ages to finish a track. Some come together in a matter of hours, or a day. Others I'll be working on for weeks/months, the hardest thing I find is actually finishing a track. Starting a track is easy for me, the initial idea, but it's always actually completing a track that I struggle with. That's why I've started looking for people to collaborate with. I've started working with a guy called Energy, we've finished a couple of tracks and working on a few more. We're just in the process of sending bits back and forth over AIM and it's a nice change to have someone to bounce ideas off.

EDJ: Whats your studio set up looking like – nay favourite bits of kit?

It's as simple as they come, a rusty old PC running Reason and an M Audio keyboard . Got some Mackie MR5 speakers recently which have been a big help.

EDJ: How do you approach music ,making – do you have an idea in your head that you then try to realise in the sequencer etc or is it more of a natural organic porcess whe nyou sit down to write?

I very rarely have a specific idea of what kind of track I want to make, and even if I do it usually ends up quite different in the end. I think it's a very organic way of working, I'll go through samples and see what fits together and they usually dictate what direction the track progresses. It's a very clichéd way of looking at it but the best tracks are usually the ones where the samples just fit together and everything just clicks into place and it's just a matter of trial and error.

EDJ: You've gained some support with your tunes from some pretty big names in the scene – any potential signings on the horizon?

I've had a few digital labels get in touch and am hoping to get a few tunes released in the near future.

EDJ: The $64,000 question - why is it that you make music? A burning desire to express yourself musically, or as mentioned earlier, is it an attempt to gain more recogition for yourself in ‘the scene’? Do you see it as a potential ‘career’ or are you happy for it to be/remain a casual hobby/release for you?

I've always had to do "something", and that has never really been linked to a career or making money off something. I've always been able to stick with run of the mill jobs as long as I've got something else to work on creatively. It would be nice to gain recognition in the scene, not in a vain way, but just to make music that would be appreciated by the people I look up to, that's the main goal really. Money has never been the driving force for me in anything I do in life; it's just about creating music that reflects what I'm about.

EDJ: Give us a brief run down on the mix – what’s included and is there any sort of thought process behind it?

There are some old and new tracks of mine on there, as with most of my stuff it's pretty chilled out. There are also a few colabs with Energy on there. A few of the tracks I've given away so if anyone wants to get hold of them check out my Soundcloud page.

EDJ: Plugs/Shouts etc

Thanks to anyone who's supported my music, shout to Omma my partner in crime, Man Parris for starting me off with the production and my girlfriend for putting up with me spending hours locked at my computer. Nice one.

Tracklisting:
Wagz - Borderline
Wagz & Energy - Fragile
Wagz - Broken
Wagz - It's Got To Be Worth Something
Wagz - Spiral
Wagz & Energy - Trust
Wagz - Nebuliser
Wagz - Blue Valentine

http://soundcloud.com/wagz

Tim Reaper's Jungle Book // Chapter Fifty Nine

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:01:00 +0000

Plasmic Life - Death Trip

We all know about the trend back in the day where old jungle tunes would make use of samples from horror films (Ricky, Johnny & Scottie, to name the main three), but this one was a bit more overlooked than most. This came out on a release on 1994 on Bizzy B's label, Brain Records, which pushed the darker side of jungle, coupled with heavy mangling of breakbeats and this tune is that in a nutshell. It samples of Screwface from Marked From Death, a film from 1990 where Steven Seagal battles with a gang of Jamaican drug dealers, ominous atmospherics, setting spines to chill and some of the heaviest stepping amens around, edited to the point of madness. One thing that I really like with this tune is that the bassline works just right with the amen edits, coming in at the right times, like it's been syncopated and that seems to give it a bit more movement than most other tracks, where the bassline and breaks don't switch and change in tandem, which I think is a nice touch. Bit of info on Plasmic Life, it was one of the early aliases used by Mark Caro, before he settled on his main artists name of Tech Itch. Back in the day, before he found his niche of snarling reeses and rinsing breakbeats, he was making some fine oldskool jungle, with this being just an example of what he was capable of. Also, check out the other tunes on this EP, one done with another producer named Alistar, who I think is still around and another solo track, where Mark shows his versatility by tackling other breaks.

Kenny Ken - The Pied Piper (AWOL VIP)

Kenny Ken is most likely more known for his DJing nowadays than his production, but way back when he used to create the odd tune every now and then, like Everyman for example, which went onto become a jungle anthem and arguably was the main factor in establishing himself as a big name in the scene. But just to pick a different tune he did, there's this one from the rare AWOL Live album, which was mixed on CD, with GQ on hosting duties whilst Kenny Ken, Randall, Dr. S Gachet, Darren Jay & Micky Finn were all throwing down VIP after VIP after VIP. It's a well worth a listen, but if you're lucky enough to get your hands on one of the rare vinyl copies, then you'll be able to get an unmixed version of all the tunes, this included. It starts off nice and calm, standard procedure, setting it all up, getting the crowd pumped with those uplifting pads & vocals, then building it up to that heavy heavy drop, where the amen & sesame street are brought in, the bass kick in, the vocal rolls out over the top and the crowd goes wild. But like I said, you'll need luck (or a large wallet) on your side if you want a copy of this on vinyl, which is the case with a fair amount of jungle releases and it's a real shame.

EDJ Review: Ella Jones - Lately (Fracture Remix) b/w Fracture - Tunnel Track

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:42:00 +0000

Ella Jones - Lately (Fracture Remix) b/w Fracture - Tunnel Track [Warm Communications]

Warm Communications is a bona fide EDJ favourite these days. Its previously left of centre approach garnered a dedicated albeit niche following in the scene. Ten years down the line however and the focus of content has shifted slightly to a more widely palatable variant of 170bpm. I think the last three releases have been given EDJ's '12" of the Week' title and even though there have been recent questions raised as to how honourable an accolade that is, it is still very telling as to how popular this label is over in our little corner of dnb.

This week sees label owner EHL bring forward one of the most prolific and forward thinking artists within dnb, Fracture. A man who in the most positive sense appears to be very much in his comfort zone these days and for it is producing some of the best music in the genre both solo and as duos Fracture and Neptune and Compound One. His knack of making the music sound unique, effortless and natural is surely something that every producer aspires to.

Of the latest fruits of his labour, we are first treated to a remix of London based, soul singer/song writer, Ella Jones. The lead track from her recent album of the same title, 'Lately' gets the Fracture treatment. Not the sort of track you would expect the typically gruff sounding funk of Fracture's to compliment but actually the results are very refreshing. The shuffling break led drums are still riding there in full effect side by side with a warm fluent bassline and the sunny side up vocals that are just crying out for the summer months to rear their ugly heads. After becoming so accustomed to focusing on the production values and shear quality of the beats we have come to expect from Fracture (and Neptune) I would say the vocal maybe detracts the listeners focus from the beats ever so slightly. It's like Brian Eno once said.

"It's like with a painting, if you have a picture of a landscape. You look at that and your eye moves freely over the picture. If you put a human figure in there, even if it's just a tiny little one, it becomes the centre of your attention. It's very difficult to ignore that. Humans relate to other humans."

In the grand scheme of things it's not really a fault of the tune, it's not like there aren't plenty of other instrumental F&N tunes out there to indulge in and if you listen long and hard enough the quality is still undoubtedly there.

On the flip 'Tunnel Track' got me most excited. The 808 sub, multi-lateral top end percussion and classic emu squelch basically fuse together all the hall marks of a classic Fracture production. With beats that start at a muffled half time but then drop into a clean cut two step what you're left with is an all encompassing, dance floor friendly slice of some of the best drum and bass music to hit the ground running in a good while.

When you've got dBridge talking about your music, saying things like (of his recent 'The Limit VIP', which by the way is also very much worth your hard earned cash) "Fracture's approach to the tune has set him on a path I don’t think he knew he’d be on. If anything it should be called ‘Limitless’, as the way ahead is full of possibilities.” You know that you don't want to be ignoring anything coming out of Astrophonica, Fracture or any of his associated aliases. WARM021 is simply an extension of that notion and a very poignant one it is too.

Out Now

Words: Tom Root

12" Of The Week // Cern - Raven Row b/w Cern & Sabre - Far Fetched

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:10:00 +0000

Cern - Raven Row b/w Cern & Sabre - Far Fetched [Horizons Music]

Horizons Music come as correct as it's possible to be with their latest 12" from New Zealander Cern. More well known for his outings on labels like Samurai and Gridlok's P51 that trod the well worn 'tech roller' path, this outing takes on slightly more left of centre approach befitting of a label like Horizons that has maintained a fluid approach to its output and musical offerings.

The a side is a clattering cacophony of stuttering drum rolls and staccato edits that dominate the mix. To my ear there can be similarities drawn with some old Photek records in the way that the rhythmic qualities of the drums add a certain melody to the tune as a whole. What grabbed many people's attention with tracks like 'Ni Ten Ichi Ryu', to take one extremely obvious and well known example, was the precision of these drums - it was clear every fill, roll and individual hit had been carefully considered and placed where it had for maximum effect, the breaks and drum line in tracks such as this seemed to be carefully and painstakingly constructed tiny piece by tiny piece to give maximum impact to the music. Not that I can find it for the life of me know but I remember reading an interview with Photek not too long ago where he spoke of reaching a point with his music where he was simply trying to push the limits of the precision and 'purity' as far as he could go to test himself as a producer. Slightly meandering analogy aside there is a similarity again with 'Raven Row', as Cern takes all the elements of previous work (big punchy drums, thunderous bass) as pushes them in a direction that is more 'pure' drum & bass than his work up to that point, its drum & bass simply for the sake of drum & bass. Anyone follow? Unlikely, but if you haven't turned away in disgust at me comparing a contemporary producer to the legend that is 'old skool photek' then you may have some idea at what I'm rambling about.

The b side sees Sabre step up on colab duties to continue his sporadic presence in the new releases list in recent weeks. While I for one am crying out for new solo work of his to sink my teeth into there can be no denying the quality of his recent collaborative tracks has been just as good individual music so there really is no cause to complain. For 'Far Fetched' the bpm is dropped down dramatically to somewhere in the 160's at a quick guess. Desperately slow by today's standards of 174 being the benchmark but its gives the track a chance to breath and this space afforded to it does not disappoint. Again, the crisp, sharp drum hits make return but in a more of standard 2-step format. This is far from the bog standard 2-step fodder released in its droves every week though as the droning bass, sci-fi fx and reverbed perc give it an ominous vibe with a nod to the old Metalheadz sound. That last comment is a bit of cliché to be honest but this tune would be right at home down at blue note, you can imagine 'Rider in his pomp battering this. Ahh, remember those times when D&B was fresh, exciting and the 'sound of the future'? If you cant because you were too young (like me) then this a glorious chance to live vicariously in 2012, and for those that were there at the time and still have an interest in the genre (there must be a few) then sit back, get all misty eyed and reminisce. Great stuff all round.

Out Now

Sir Real // Close Your Eyes Mix

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:23:00 +0000

Sir Real back with another instalment of melodic soulful beats. If we only we had the weather to match eh?

Tracklisting:
Technicolour, Komatic & LSB – Rotary Motion // Integral DUB
Joe Goddard – Gabriel (Calibre Remix) // Greco Roman
Pro Luxe – Without You // Intelligent Recordings
Smote – Summertime // Innerground
Bungle – Close your eyes // Sonorous
Random Movement – Purple Getaway // FREE
Eveson – Good Times // Channel 82
DJ Chap – Its seems I’m Never // LuvDisaster
Total Science, SPY & Riya – Piano Funk // Mind Vision
Random Movement – Dirt Bobber // Innerground
DJ Marky & SPY – Last Night // Innerground
BCee feat Robert Owens – Keep the faith (Marcus Intalex remix) // Spearhead
Dynamic – Make my heart feel // Fokuz
Komatic – The open Choice // Celsius
Flaco – Choose Me (Insiders remix) // Rubik Digital
Random Movement - Feeling Translated // Innerground
Calibre – Mr Right On // Signature
Ed Thomas & Planas – Breathless (dBridge Soul Steppers Mix) // Exceptional Records
DJ Marky & SPY – Love Affair // Innerground

http://soundcloud.com/sirreal

Tim Reaper's Jungle Book // Chapter Fifty Eight

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:28:00 +0000

This week, I'm going to do a special on a very famous jungle label. It was started in 1991, amassing 100s of releases over a period of around 15 years. It even made an appearance on the game Grand Theft Auto III, being granted it's own radio station. Revered inside and outside of the jungle/drum & bass scene, it can be uniquely identified from this logo.

Yes, Moving Shadow, started by Rob Playford, the label that helped artists like Deep Blue, Omni Trio, Foul Play, 2 Bad Mice, Blame, Cloud 9, Hyper On Experience, EZ Rollers and so many more to break through into the scene. Over the course of its history the label released seminal classics like Dred Bass, Terrorist, Lord Of The Null Lines, Renegade Snares, The Helicopter Tune, Bombscare, Thru The Vibe, Music Takes You, Tough At The Top, Soul Promenade, the list goes on. It had an amazing run of releases, always making sure to stay on top of the current trends at the time, starting off with the breakbeat hardcore sound, then leading onto the heavy jungle, which was then followed by a run of atmospheric/jazzy releases, then when AK1200 took charge of the label, it became a bit darker and tech orientated. Whatever sound it chose to release, it always released the best and the label name quickly became a symbol of quality music and unlike a lot of labels, managed to maintain that to the end, even with such a large quantity of releases.

So out of the wide ranging back catalogue to pick tunes from, here are my picks from Moving Shadow.

12" Of The Week // Xtrah - Set The Levels ft. Code:Breaker b/w Regain Control

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:26:00 +0000

Xtrah - Set The Levels ft. Code:Breaker b/w Regain Control [Modulations]

After a slightly damning review of Xtrah's last release on Subtitles a few weeks back I thought I would share my continued up and down relationship with the young London based producer's music as he sets off on a journey with yet a another label, Modulations. Over the last couple of years since its creation, Kasra's sister imprint to its big brother Critical has proven to be a healthy stalwart for the deeper musical output that Critical itself now only flirts with from time to time. You may be forgiven for not instantly spotting the differing angles from which these two channels of creativity aim from though. I had to sit back and think about it when putting pen to paper here. It's like Modulations has forced Critical to diversify through a nonchalant occupation of the territory once so dearly held by its sibling. I'm sure it's all part of Kasra's master plan for growth and there can be no denying the increasing weight the group now holds in the scene with a ever proliferating club brand and Kasra himself stepping up to mix Fabric's most recent 'live CD.

That brings me quite nicely onto this release. For those of you that follow the loose narrative of this blog you will have heard our editor giving words of unadulterated praise to Xtrah a few months back. A sentiment echoed by myself and the inverse reciprocated between us when the Subtitles release dropped a few weeks back. Between those two points in time however, Kasra dropped the aforementioned Fabriclive62 mix and contained within it was the stand out 'Regain Control' that now occupies the B side of this 10" piece of wax. It's full fat drums and organic but refined cymbal crashes give it a tactile aura to grab hold of. But it's the bottom end that holds all the value here, the emu-esq squelch on the sub bass proves that you can find this distinct brand of funk outside of that oh so notable duo, Fracture and Neptune. If Xtrah is trying to replicate a stylistic trait here then the words 'nail' and 'head' are two that immediately spring to mind. To me the A side is always going to be left in the wake of the flip though. 'Set the Levels' Featuring Codebreaker is your typical MC laced 'head nodder' as seems to be a sound 'de jour' at the moment. Stepping beats, sinister fx and shakers, brooding bassline and a few token looped bars to boot. I think producers need to treat this little sub genre of dnb with care. A lot of the tracks are beginning to sound very similar. Kind of inherent with such strong characteristics being prevalent but as we have seen with tracks like 'Marka' and the forthcoming 'Never Been' from Dub Phizix, there is still a lot to be drawn from the raw elements that make them up.

So for what it's worth, some redemption for Xtrah through this release. Not that the label is a certain pre cursor to a good tune but with the A&R skills of Kasra behind it you would kind of expect something that at least fits the mould of the contemporary soundscape of today's DnB. Plus Modulations is always one to keep an eye on and this release, even if to me only half of it, goes one more step towards proving that.

Out Now

Words: Tom Root

Doc Scott // Future Beats Vol. 9

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:18:00 +0000

After a self imposed winter hibernation in his studio (crafting some new beats apparently) Doc Scott rises like a phoenix from the flames with the next installment of his much loved 'Future Beats' mix series.

Excellent way to kick start the weekend.

http://soundcloud.com/docscott31

EDJ Review: Heavy1 - False Color Image b/w Mindmapper & Fre4knc - Dictionary Of Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Thu, 03 May 2012 09:21:00 +0000

Heavy1 - False Color Image b/w Mindmapper & Fre4knc - Dictionary Of Dreams [Dust Audio]

Hull may not be the first place you think of when talking about hot spots of drum and bass music. However the advent of the internet and ever widening appeal of the genre mean you no longer have to be based in London, Bristol or any other traditionally cultural hot spot to make your mark on the scene. Step forth then Dust audio. After running successful nights in the aforementioned town for the last five years its first release is out this week and proves that in this era you can be truly cosmopolitan even if your immediate physical surroundings are not. DUST001 brings together Japan's Heavy1, and Holland's Mindmapper, Fre4knc and the ever forward thinking Triple Vision group. Bold stuff for a new label. Add to that the fact that they're sticking their neck out and releasing wax straight off just goes to show that there is still many an aspiring label owner willing to take a chance on polyvinyl chloride and for that first and foremost , they should be applauded.

But it's not all about the format. In fact arguably it has very little to do with the appeal of any release these days. If it were not for all the nostalgic attachment vinyl has to d'n'b it probably wouldn't even figure as an argument, deciding factor or topic up for (constant) debate. Anyway, I digress! Dust audio has been set up 'to push the most upfront music possible whilst still retaining shelf life way beyond the release date'. Again bold stuff but what's the point in starting something like this if you're not aiming high, after all competition is fierce out there. To the tunes then - Heavy1 is becoming known for his own brand of robotic funk that is something of a rarity when dealing with producers coming out of Japan. 'False Colour Image' is fierce in its outlook with thumping kicks and aggravated rattlers. It's razored fx and complimentary bass tones sit very well with the whole feel of the tune to make for a dance floor smasher of an A side.

Mindmapper first came onto my radar via the excellent 'City of Light' LP on MC Verse's Crunch Recordings that showcased Eindhoven's finest proponents of the genre. With fellow countryman Fre4knc on board for 'Dictionary of Dreams' their effort for Dust falls in line with expectations of two step breaks, sinister fx and some serious bass weight at the bottom end. It retains a humble aesthetic for this over-crowed sub genre, which in its home country is predominated by the likes of Icicle, Nymfo and Proxima, whilst holding its own as an original piece in its own right.

Dust Audio looks set to begin as it means to go on. Presumably at some point we will see something surface from label owners Slider & Expose and with the broad mission statement of developing and nurturing up and coming raw talent alongside the more established artists within the scene the world is their oyster. Let's just hope the momentum doesn't slow as it can (and does all too often with new labels) so easily as it would be a shame to waste such a clear talent for spotting and releasing good music.

Out Now

http://www.dustaudio.co.uk/

Words: Tom Root

Tim Reaper's Jungle Book // Chapter Fifty Seven

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Wed, 02 May 2012 11:34:00 +0000

Just Jungle - Sky

Long before he was producing under his current artist name of Genotype, he was making tunes using the name Just Jungle and under that name he was making some rather fine amen jungle with some of his releases on Trouble On Vinyl (which later went on to become Renegade Hardware), including this, which is probably his most famous tune under this name. However it's not an amen jungle rinseout tune, like you'd think but actually a lush roller, making effective use of samples from Roy Ayers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlQwzL-M194 @ 5:38). I really really like this tune based on how he tweaked and looped the sample, using it fairly sparingly, whilst adding his own twist and instrumentation to work alongside the vocal sample. Also, I like how he took a chance and went against the previous style of his, a heavy amen ragga jungle style he was pushing with this name, and then he switched it on this tune. It was quite a risky move, but I would say that it's paid off, as it's a brilliant track, one for the ages.

DJ Krush - Meiso (4hero Remix)

At the time this came out, labels like Mo Wax were experimenting with releasing drum & bass, getting tunes and remixes from Dillinja, Roni Size and DJ Krust, Peshay, DJ Crystl and in this case, the legendary music act 4hero. For those who need a bit of background info about 4hero, it started off as a 4 piece act, around the time when they released their seminal classic, Mr. Kirk's Nightmare. But as time went on, it slimmed down to a duo, made up of Dego (aka Tek 9) and Marc Mac (aka Manix). They have a reputation for being pioneers within in the scene, with their label (Reinforced Records) constantly maintaining a high standard of releases and having a prolific output, spanning many different aliases. Their style is very musical, use of actual instruments is frequent and you can hear that in this remix, a very soothing track, consisting of live drums, switching to and fro with a flowing apache break, chopped up in quite a natural manner, with some sublime rhodes over the top. As good as that sounds already, 4hero aren't ones to settle, so they build up the mood with more instrumentation coming in and more frenzied break edits, taking the listener on a musical journey. This tune is typical 4hero, plenty of switches to keep you interested and musicality which is unmatched in most other tracks.

Nozstock Festival // Announcement + Competition

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Tue, 01 May 2012 11:04:00 +0000

Festvial season is fast approaching, and EDJ is pleased to announce that we have struck up a freindship with the good people at Nozstock Festival. Taking place somewhere in the hills of Herefordshire, the theme is 'Myths & Legends' and for D&B fans there's plenty to get excited about with confirmed acts inicluding Andy C, Ed Rush, Dub Phizix, Octane & DLR and much more besides.

You don't have to travel abroad and spend hundreds of £'s to go to a decent festival (those readers that live in the UK that is), and in fact some of the best ones are right here on our doorstep. Check all the info below, and if it takes your fancy, we are running a competition for a pair of tickets to the fest! All details at the end of the post.

DJ ZINC and THE RAGED ADDED TO NOZSTOCK LINEUP
Theme: Myths and Legends
Bromyard, Herefordshire
27-29 July 2012

Nozstock The Hidden Valley is delighted to announce DnB powerhouse DJ Zinc for Nozstock 2012 alongside live breakbeat acts The Raged and Sicknote. The festival favourites Bantam of the Opera, a theatre stage by day and Velveteen Valley Caberet Lounge by night will also be back to wow the more adventurous of the festival goers.

Headlining the Garden Stage on Friday is founding member of the now legendary Ganja Crew/Tru Playaz collectives DJ Zinc. His 1995 club smasher ‘Super Sharp Shooter’ and speaker-busting bootleg of The Fugees ‘Ready Or Not’ won him international acclaim and spawned the Tru Playaz club night which he set up with fellow TP cohorts Pascal and DJ Hype. Also just confirmed are Imperial Leisure, Remedy MC, The Caezers, Jake Bugg, Kentish Fire and We Steal Thieves to name a few.

But it’s not just the music line-up that will delight this year, as there are many nooks and crannies and secret wooded glades to discover. During the day the Bantam Of The Opera tent offers a myriad of theatrical shenanigans. Midnight marks the start of the Velveteen Valley Caberet Lounge - tassels and glamour are in store here, featuring ring mistress Ophelia Bitz on Saturday in an eclectic mix of cabaret, humour, song and dance.

For more information go to www.nozstock.com

New announcements for the Orchard/Garden stages...

DJ ZINC
THE RAGED / SICKNOTE
THE FUTUREHEADS / IMPERIAL LEISURE / JAKE BUGG / REMEDY MC / EUGENE FRANCIS JNR / LOS ALBERTOS/ KAL LAVELLE / THE CAEZERS / EYES ON FILM / KENTISH FIRE / WE STEAL THIEVES / PHYSICS / THE STOWAWAYS / CHINA SHOP BULL / THE SNARE JOHN BLOOD AND THE HIGHLYS / ANDI SKELLAM / SCOPE / AMOS /RUBY AND THE RIBCAGE / NEW TOWN KINGS / WOODEN HOUSE

They join the previously announced...

THE PROCLAIMERS / ANDY C and MC GQ / DREADZONE / THE CORRESPONDENTS / CAMO AND KROOKED / DRUMSOUND AND BASSLINE SMITH / SKINNY LISTER / WILLY MOON / JUAN ZELADA / SON OF DAVE / OCTANE and DLR / BRASSROOTS / DOLLAR BILL / ELECTRIC SWING CIRCUS / BY THE RIVERS / TOMB CREW / YOUNGSTA / DUB PHIZIX / ED RUSH / SONNY WHARTON

Other Stages:
THE BULLPEN:
SIKA STUDIOS - hip hop takeover featuring the cream of underground UK hip hop talent, with graffiti art workshops THE FOUR OWLS / DIRTY DIKE & JAM BAXTER / FLIPTRIX / 3 AMIGOS / ED JONES / NATALIE COLEMAN / NICK WALTERS / SAMANTHA (GET DIVERTED)
London’s MOOCH Saturday night takeover www.moochlondon.co.uk - underground House & Techno.

THE COPPICE:
Bristol’s TRIBE OF FROG host psychedelic trance stage www.tribeoffrog.com

THE BANDSTAND:
MUSICBORN from London host Friday night www.musicborn.com - elite bands from the London circuit with a mix of indie, rock and electro

THE CUBICLES:
ANDY C and MC GQ / CAMO AND KROOKED / DRUMSOUND AND BASSLINE SMITH / TOMB CREW / OCTANE and DLR / YOUNGSTA / DUB PHIZIX / ED RUSH

Other Fun Activities:
Nozstock The Hidden Valley strives to bring a whole cornucopia of fun, games and happenings. 2012’s extravaganza will bring you:

Sock Wrestling, Walkabout Theatre, Ballz Out Circus Troupe, Fire Dancers, Jive and Ceilidh evenings, Sound Art, Spoken Word and Poetry, Talks and Forums from the Tent Of Temporary Thought with guest speakers

KIDS AREA: THE ENCHANTED GLADE
Slapstick workshop, Circus skills, Willow Sculptures, Face Painting, Tall Tales, Puppet Procession, Kidi Yoga, Puppet Processions, UV Disco and Dance Workshop, Hula Hooping, Gaffer Tape Roses, Bubble Making, Craft Workshops, Magician, Balloon Maker

COMEDY:
This year Nozstock is working with UP FOR COMEDY? showcasing the cream of national and regional talent plus STAND UP AGAINST RACISM as part of the SHOW RACISM THE RED CARD campaign to raise awareness. Full line-up soon to be announced.

WRONG DIRECTIONS CINEMA:
MASH Cinema have been organising events and screenings since 2002 and continue to promote art, film and music through their events locally and internationally. Over the past six years MASH Cinema has gained recognition for visual performances working with artists, musicians and DJs at events, clubs and festivals throughout Europe.

HEALING AREA:
The healing and therapy area will be offering Thai massage among other healing therapies. It is run by www.yelenisupport.co.uk who will be donating a percentage of their takings to cancer patients and their families.

FOOD AND DRINK:
As ever, Nozstock will be creating a varied menu combining local delights with foods of the World. A plethora of tasty meals and snacks will be offer with a chill out café for those seeking coffee-scented sanctuary.

TICKETS:
Gates open at 9am from Friday 27th July. Shuttle services will be on offer from local town Bromyard and to and from Hereford and Worcester before and after the festival.

ON SALE NOW
Adult Advance Weekend Tickets £80
Camper Van/Live in Vehicle Pass £28 (price freeze)
Parking Pass Full Weekend £5 in advance (price freeze)
Boutique Camping – details to follow soon

ON SALE FROM JUNE 1ST
Tier B Adult Weekend Tickets £85

ABOUT NOZSTOCK:
Amid the emerald fields and raggle-taggle farmhouses of Herefordshire’s ruralest countryside lies Nozstock: The Hidden Valley, where you’ll find a delightful amalgamation of performance, art, electronic supersounds and good old-fashioned guitar-strumming and drum-bashing taking place 27th-29th July in Bromyard, Herefordshire. Now in its 14th year, Nozstock is a sonic escape boasting eight main stages of entertainment with surprising sights and intimate, secluded areas of theatre and discovery to be unearthed.

As mentioned, we are running a competition for a pair of tickets to Nozstock. All you have to do is answer this very simple question:

When DJ Zinc sadly 'left' Drum & Bass, what self-styled genre of music did he start to make?

Answer to 'competitions [at] everydayjunglist.biz' with 'Nozstock Festival Comp' in the subject line. Competiton closes at 5pm GMT on Friday 25th May. Good luck!

Keep your eyes out for more Nozstock related goodness on the blog in the run up to festival including interviews, mixes and all that jazz.

http://www.nozstock.com/

12" Of The Week // Blocks & Escher - Shiver b/w Heartshaped (ASC Remix)

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:44:00 +0000

Blocks & Escher - Shiver b/w Heartshaped (ASC Remix) [Narratives Music]

EDJ favourites Blocks and Escher return to the fore with Narratives Music 002 this week after the first release earlier this year was received to critical acclaim by some of those most revered in the scene. What was so refreshing with '001 was the refined nature of the music that afforded listeners the joy of immersing themselves in its musical depth while the intermittent outburst of breaks throughout meant DJs could still use it to work the floor to good effect. Not an overly common occurrence in the landscape that is contemporary drum and bass but one that is often strived for and has proved time and again extremely difficult to replicate. Maybe it's the label's nostalgic nod towards the 90's that helps give the music more depth. When you can distinctly identify more than one clear reference point it surely gives the listener more to get their ears around and most importantly think about.

Moving on from that the latest offerings to see the light of day have, it's fair to say, less of a nostalgic heir to them. Totally understandable when you consider what's on offer. The B side is an ASC remix of 'Heartshaped' which has been floating around for some time and is now quite deservedly getting the exposure it deserves. It's a text book autonomic-esq re-lick of the original which dropped on Horizons a few years back and proved to be one of the labels best endeavours. Dreamy pads and click-clap percussion are very much what you would expect and are prevalent in full effect. But it's the shuffle ASC gives the beats that provides the subtle master stroke every good remix should possess. Befitting the nature of the original without subversive pilferage of its key attributes. My natural and perfunctory gravitation on receiving this release was towards the B side and for that I may be considered superficial in my general outlook. It is still telling on some level or another and following that oh so joyous of sensory experiences, to me it would have felt wrong to then listen to the A side and find another 'Broken'/'Sagan' laced with old school break stabs and haunting aural back-drops. Instead what I was treated to was a forward thinking filmic vista of a track that proves emotive electronic music at 170bpm still has so much to offer. Simply a page torn from the autonomic text book 'Shiver' is not. It's ambient, drone beauty merely uses as a canvass the template of 170bpm and forges through it something to lose yourself in, forgetting that you even found this music through a mutual love with its producers of drum and bass.

Through Narratives Music Blocks and Escher are subverting the status quo of the masses' opinion of our beloved genre. As a concept it's nothing new. Many have used drum and bass as their foundation for experimental and innovative music in the past and present. The thing is that some are/have been more successful at it than others. Those that succeed, do so by generally going about their business without arousing suspicion of the core contingent of the genre. Once you lose the 'scene' you either fall by the wayside or move sideways into the arms of a more forward thinking but generally smaller audience. Narratives seem to have the balance just right and although only two releases old, feels like an old pro that's been doing it's thing for years.

Out Now

Words: Tom Root

EDJ Review: Xtrah - Here I Go Again b/w Eradicate

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 08:06:00 +0000

Xtrah - Here I Go Again b/w Eradicate [Subtitles]

Both Xtrah and Subtitles have been creating a bit of a stir over at EDJ in the last few months. His outstanding contribution to Kasra's recent Fabriclive CD and his stunning B side on Break's Symmetry recordings a few months back really made him one to watch in our eyes. His partnership with Subtitles came to fruition last year and a couple of twelves down the line, he's now firmly sitting in the loose and spontaneously created category of 'established leaders of the new school'.

So expectations are high. Something one should always be cautious of when approaching new music (or in fact anything creative - call me a pessimist if you will!) This week the aforementioned partnership bears more fruit for us hungry foragers of the drum and bass landscape in the form of SUBTITLESUK014 (I know not why the release counter got reset a couple of years ago but the label is knocking on for 90 all told now). Unfortunately this release, as can often happen with high expectations, fell short of mine. That's not to say that the tunes are inherently bad, maybe more so just not what I was expecting. The A side 'Eradicate' has an initially quaint charm (not something typically associated with Subtitles) with its quirky, zipping mid-range sounds. Aside from that though it just feels a bit soulless and rumbles along with its tight beats, full throttle processing and intermittent wobbles of bass pressure, all typical Subtitles ingredients. To my mind this type of dnb has to have enough funk to keep ones interest or be intense enough to retain the floor in a rave environment. I've got to say (with regret) that this does neither for me. On the flip 'Here I Go Again' stutters its way through with a disjointed beats, fills and spooky fx. Add to that some token hip-hop pilfered vocal samples and growling bass and you've got yourself something that doesn't do much to redeem the A side, which to me was entirely necessary. All that said if you are partial to a bit of tech infused dnb at the harder end of the spectrum then this release may well be for you.

I remember hearing Teebee talking about Basher and Xtrah when he first started doing his series of podcasts back in 2010, saying that he couldn't get enough of everything these guys were sending him. I wonder if the signing of these tunes was a bit of a knee-jerk reaction to a wave of initial enthusiasm. I would be surprised considering his length of service in the game and undisputed proven track record as a label owner. I can only put my contrasting lack of enthusiasm down to personal taste. Still, as I always say, this is only my opinion and you can head over to the ever faithful store at Surus to grab yourself an exclusive copy of the release before it goes on general sale in the next few weeks.

Out Now

Words: Tom Root

Tim Reaper's Jungle Book // Chapter Fifty Six

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:51:00 +0000

Alright, this week, it's a tribute to what used to be one of the most revered producers in jungle/drum & bass, with so many classics under his belt, who's production & ideas were so forward thinking for his day, who has a consistently good workrate, who has a high hit to miss ratio & just who is generally one of my (& many others) most influential producers. It's none other than Karl Francis aka Capone aka Trinity aka Basic Influence aka Suburban Knights aka The Specialist aka the legend that is/was Dillinja. Yes, one of the producers of the 90s who was always pushing the boundaries, thinking outside the box and bringing new elements to the table throughout his career with classics like The Angels Fell, Silver Blade, Jah Know Ya Big, Deadly Deep Subs (Remix), Acid Trak (w/ Lemon D) and countless other great examples of music. Now, let's not deal with any negativity and go into the more recent Dillinja releases, I'm going to remain positive and focus on his highs, but instead of the rinsed tunes that everyone has heard, I'm picking some lesser known tracks of his, some of his which he made, some of his which are remixes of other tunes, some tunes which were never released and even some where he was engineering for another artist, but his sound couldn't help but shine through. So, here's a selection of Dillinja's obscure tunes, spanning a wide range of aliases and labels.

12" Of The Week // Marcus Intalex - Sell Your Soul b/w Guillotine

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:45:00 +0000

Marcus Intalex - Sell Your Soul b/w Guillotine [Soul:R]

Currently making some serious moves under his Trevino guise (releases on [NAKED LUNCH] and 3024 with more in the pipeline) the artist D&B heads know as Marcus Intalex makes a welcome return to the 170bpm range with the latest release on his revered Soul:R label.

The a side, he said in a recent interview, is a 'blatant nod to the old Dillinja sound', and while this may not have scietifically precise amen edits and thunderous bass 90's Dilly was known for there are definitely elements that indicate the inspiration behind the track. The punchy, slightly reverbed drums give the tracks its dynamism and the big bouncing bass gives it a serious dollop of funk that sure to get heads nodding and feet tapping.

The b-side is a different kettle of fish all together with a simple 2-step break and droning bass making it more a 'roller' that the a side. Both tracks are embellished with Intalex's masterful and renowned synth work and while his tracks have always been known to have a slightly techno-ish influence it is clear from this release that he is taking ideas & inspiration from across the dance music spectrum and beyond these days. This more panoramic outlook was hinted at with his '21 LP' and thankfully seems to be carrying into all his music since.

A guy that's been around in game for as long as he has could quite justifiably rest on his laurels a touch but Intalex is still striving to create innovative, forward think dance music at a variety of tempos and a in a variety of genres. While so many others that have been involved in the 'scene' since the early days have fallen by the way side he is still a standard bearer and bastion for quality music which is certainly something to be admired.

Out Now

Andy Skopes & Reform // So Much More (Epic Intro VIP)

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:26:00 +0000

A little free tune to end the Friday with, from Andy Skopes and Reform. I've mentioned on numerous occasions what a sucker I am for pianos in D&B and this has keys in abundance. Lovely vibes.

http://soundcloud.com/andyskopes/
http://soundcloud.com/sashamuller

Fonik // Process | April '12

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Its been a while since I last rolled out a purely D&B selection, dabbling as I have been in a variety of other genres & tempos - a lot of fun it's been too. However, my first love will always be D&B and there's been a lot of great music released in the first quarter of the year so far, some of which is handily compiled in this mix for your listening pleasure. As always, there's a wide range of styles and sub-genres covered so there should be something for everyone. (I hope).

Respect to all the artists and labels making and releasing the music, and much love to everyone supporting the scene by actually buying their music, whatever the format. Out to Rothko on the artwork :)

Big up.

Tracklisting:
Tokyo Prose - Echoes (Synkro Remix) [Samurai Red Seal]
Hatti Vatti ft. Cian Finn - You (Indigo Remix) [New Moon Recordings]
Tokyo Prose - LPK Sound (Consequence Remix) [Samurai Red Seal]
Beastie Respond - No More [Teal]
Martsman - Static [Hidden Hawaii]
AnD - ABSTRT [Hidden Hawaii]
DB1 - Vanguard [Hidden Hawaii]
AnD - Tension [Hidden Hawaii]
Synkro - Progression (Indigo Remix) [Exit]
dBridge - Cornered [Metalheadz]
Atom - Studio Electronics [Phunkfiction]
Tyrone - Behemoth [Ingredients]
Breakage - Clarendon [Digital Soundboy]
Kodo - The Jackal [Ingredients]
dBridge - The Little Things [Metalheadz]
Hydro & Halogenix - Trieste [Horizons]
FD - Stripped [Warm Communications]
Sabre, Stray & Halogenix - St Clair [Critical]
Fracture & FD - No Rest [Subtitles]
Fracture & Neptune - Ups & Downs VIP [Offshore/Organic]
Parallel & Relapse - Parasitic Oscillations [Alphacut]
Parallel & Tim Reaper - Vega [Alphacut]
Dub-One - Fallen Society [Scientific Wax]

http://fonik.official.fm/

EDJ Review: Jekyll - Drainpipe b/w Blabbermouth

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:06:00 +0000

Jekyll - Drainpipe b/w Blabbermouth [Diffrent]

Diffrent music are on a bit of a roll this year. The broadly digital only label (which has only hit us with one vinyl release that dropped towards the end of 2011 to much praise and demand) has steadily built up a following of some of dnb’s greatest proponents. I reviewed their digital EP from Arkaik at the start of this year which showed much promise from an artist still finding his feet in the ever crowed world of contemporary drum and bass.

Soon come though (7th May) we will be treated to something a little bit special. You may have noticed our good editor getting all giddy with excitement at the back end of last week about the free tune that Diffrent artist Jekyll put up on his soundcloud for free download just 8 months ago. By no coincidence whatsoever (Dr) Jekyll is now ready to serve up a couple of similarly heavyweight releases on DIFF013. ‘Drainpipe’ on the A side is a straight rolling slice of techno infused dancefloor dnb. With crackling FX, tightly restrained but devastatingly deep bass and neck snapping snares it is right in the mix with some of the best efforts in this over-proliferated sub section of the genre. ‘Blabbermouth’ on the flip is not too dissimilar in terms of its overall sound. It is more aggressive though with frantic breaks, fills and more of a stepping drum pattern. Complimentary of the A side, yes but I can’t see it doing quite so much damage on the floor.

In this digital age is the release per se as important as the individual tracks? If people are feeling the A or B side of a release will they not just cherry pick the tune they want and simply dismiss the perceived weaker of the two? Probably yes, I would imagine the majority of digital music purchases are quite impulsive and not always based on a comprehensive understanding of the label, artist and even the genre as a whole. Not so bad though surely, it may even work to the advantage of the industry, just think about how many impulse buys you make in the supermarket and later regret!

All musings aside, this release is banging and Diffrent is proving itself a real force to be reckoned with in the emerging pack of new labels looking to carry the baton in the seemingly never-ending relay race that is the drum and bass scene. Keep your eyes peeled over at Surus for the drop!

Words: Tom Root

Mantra // Credentials

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:02:00 +0000

Do you like good music? We look like good music, that why we want to being this release to your attention. Its the very first from Rupture's Mantra and is out now on Sub's Syncopathic Recordings. The small number of women involved in D&B usually have their sex made a big deal of - Rap, Storm 'the first lady' etc and while invariably the fact she is a female of the species (*shock*) does get mentioned (I'm doing it right now, hypocrisy in action folks!) thankfully its her prowess behind the decks that has garnered her the most attention.

So, it turns out she's no slouch behind the mixing desk either (getting schooled by Double-O probably helps though) as this release goes to prove. Breaksy D&B and some deep dubstep across the 3 tracks, its well worth a few sheckles if you've got them spare.

While we're on a Mantra/Rupture flex, the first vinyl release on the Rupture LDN label has just been sent for mastering so expect that in the not too distant future aswell. Hold tight for some inane ramblings (sorry a 'review') from myself on that when it drops. Larvely farckin jubbly.

http://www.syncopathicrecordings.com/
http://soundcloud.com/mantra

Tim Reaper's Jungle Book // Chapter Fifty Five

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:13:00 +0000

New London Jazz Connection - Mind Elevation

This might be a very bold statement for me to make but I think that this may be the first ever liquid drum & bass tune. I say this because this tune holds most of the qualities/characteristics which make up most liquid tunes today. The main sample (Elevate Our Minds by Linda Williams, many thanks to Technicolour for the ID), it has the drums, layered up with some highpassed breaks (which I've never heard in any tune earlier than this), the slick sub bassline that accompanies the sample and the use of filters to make everything work and sound nice and clean. Even though this was released on jungle label White House, as early as 1996, could still probably hold up in a modern day liquid set. I don't know much about New London Jazz Connection, they only seem to have released a house 12" and this release, but many thanks to these two for having a fairly big role in the creation of 'liquid funk'.

Essence Of Aura - So This Is Love

Let me start off by saying that this tune is remarkable. I knew of this tune from my browsing sessions on YouTube but it wasn't until I heard it on one of the compilations that I bought that I realised how good this tune really is. What I like about it is the epic cinematic-like buildup in the intro that's carried on through the whole tune, which really struck a chord with me. When the amen dropped with the added layer of musicality and it was taken to another level, that's when I questioned how I could have slept on such a great track for so long. Essence Of Aura released this tune on a 3 track EP on the seminal label Moving Shadow in 1995 and as good as the other two tunes are, this one's the real standout track, in my opinion With its fresh sounding beats coupled with musical richness, it manages to succesfully mould together dancefloor and home-listening into one brilliant piece of music.

Omni Music // New Releases

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 19:10:00 +0000

Our friends at Omni Music have just released their latest EP's, one offering from Greenleaf and one from Relapse. 8 tracks in total with some serious breaks and bass, support a small label if you can and purchase via Bandcamp!

http://www.omnimusic.org/

DJ Gunshot // Wheel Up (Tim Reaper Remix)

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:50:00 +0000

Our man Mr Reaper's interpretation of Gunshot's legendary 'Wheel Up', released for free for reaching an almighty 2000 followers on his soundcloud. I've ranted about this whole social media thing before but now is not the time or place, let's just enjoy the music shall we?! Serious edits!

http://soundcloud.com/tim-reaper

12" Of The Week // Sevin - No Wonder b/w Amazon

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:54:00 +0000

Sevin - No Wonder b/w Amazon [Prestige Music]

What Prestige lack in regularity of releases they more than make up for in the quality of tracks that do crop up every now and again. Its been close to a year since their last release from The Insiders and for PM008 we are treated to two soulful cuts from Sevin.

The a-side, 'No Wonder', is, to borrow a phrase from EDJ's Tom Root, good old fashioned liquid 'like your mum used to make'. High passed breaks, sultry, folorn vocals, subtle keys, sorrowful horns and a few tasty guitar licks thrown into the mix for good measure as well. A lot of musical elements all competing for the listeners attention which could all get a bit messy but they gel together beautifully in this track and is sure fire way for any dj (without meaning to sound too sexist) to get a few girls moving on the floor if it were needed.

The b side toughens things up a little with some crunchy amens and deep bass but still manages to retain that all important element of 'liquid' soul with some choice vocal snippets and airy pads. Its hard to pick one track over the other on this release which is a vinyl buyers dream of course, and here's hoping we dont have to wait another year for another release. Prestige by name, prestige by nature...

Out Now

Jekyll // 'Disperse'

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:56:00 +0000

8 months late on this motherfuckers! EDJ at the cutting edge yeah. Anyway, I've just been jumping around my desk like a madman for the past few minutes at the discovery of this tune for one simple reason - I was rambling on recently about the old-skool style hunt for track I.D's and so on (in the Martsman/DB1 review if you're interested like) and this exact thing has happened to me right now, all of 10 minutes ago.

I had no idea what this tune was, who it was by or anything, I had just heard it in a few mixes and thought 'thats fucking sick, what is it, I want it'. I had no idea, I just had the bline swimming around in my head for an eternity and then BANG, out of nowhere via an innocuous post on DOA I discover it is this beauty from Diffrent Music's Jekyll, and its a free give away no less!

If you like Drum & Bass in any way, shape or form you should be all over this right now. No fucking about, heavweight business right here. B-LINE!

Download Mirror

http://soundcloud.com/drjekyll
http://www.diffrentmusic.com/

Halogenix // FABRICLIVE Promo Mix

noreply@blogger.com (Everyday Junglist) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:41:00 +0000

Halogenix is a definitely one to watch this year - having just dropped the acclaimed 'Oblique' on Critical he's quickly followed up with a devastating 12" on Horizons that was released last week. With further music out on Invisible and colabs in the pipeline with Stray, Sabre, Skeptical & Dub Phizix, he's a name you'll be seeing a lot more of, thats for sure.

He swung by the Fabric blog ahead of his appearance at the club on the 20th and dropped a little 30 minute promo mix to accompany an interview. In his own words - "I tried to put a lot of thought into this mix; I wanted it to be coherent but also quite eclectic. I get bored listening to an hour of the same style of drum & bass so I tried to vary it up quite a lot. You’ll find some real experimental stuff in there from myself, and the likes of Ena. And then some straight dance floor killers. "

Lovely.

Tracklisting:
Halogenix & Mitchell Aldrich – The Passage
Reza & Ena – Untitled
Vinnie Paz - Drag You To Hell (Digital Goon Remix)
Clarity – Fractured
Xtrah - Here I Go Again
Halogenix – Laika
Breakage - Rebel Creations
Sabre, Stray & Halogenix ft. Frank Carter III - Oblique VIP
Mefjus - Far Too Close
Halogenix – Raya
Line Of Sight - Suspension (Sunchase Remix)
M-Zine & Skepticz - A!on3
Halogenix - Post [2008]

http://soundcloud.com/halogenix