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Jan / Feb 2001 Reviews:
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This Month's Reviews are by BoZ (AKA Code) & Spex Of Pyraplastic Recs.
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PHOTEK "Sushi" (Photek Records)
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REVIEW BY: BoZ
Two fresh tracks from the one like Rupert here, with the deliciously raw (sorry) 'Sushi'. Side A kicks off with a funky little break and some wicked pads, before steppin' it up with some delicious vocals and a hypnotic organ groove. A fat, tribal dub bassline pumps away from the outset, making the crowd wiggle their behinds until it drops into the kick drum build up. Then comes the full bassline with some nice sound effects thrown in. This tune thumps nicely and will be popular with anyone that likes the Fabio vibe.
Side B is quite like the A side, sounding almost like an alternative edit. It uses a very similar loop, but gains a fat, roller of a bassline and some sharp horn licks. Spooky noises and loads of atmosphere on offer here, and will score well with fans of the old rumbling jungle bassline. Pretty damn good.
Good quality as usual from Photek, bringing us a couple of moody little numbers guaranteed to be smashing up dancefloors everywhere
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RATING: 8/10
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FUTURE TECH "Tribal Warefare" (Technique Recs.)
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REVIEW BY: SPEX
After the almost anthemic ,I Need Your Love, it's time for the Technique Crew, as Future Tech, to let loose some futuristic beats & basslines (if you don't know who Future Tech are by now - You'll Never Know!). Tribal Warefare is a bit of a sci-fi tune taking you to another world, the world of Future Tech. This atmospheric intro, neat drum arrangement and phat bass is slightly more experimental then previous releases on the label. Before you go to the other world check Appollo Creed, on the flipside, still quite an experimental tune but will appeal to both the head nodders in the corner and the dancefloor massive. Technique Recordings easing you into 2001.
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RATING: 7/10
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J MAJIK "Love is not a game Feat. Kathy Brown" (Infrared)
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REVIEW BY: BoZ
Everyone will know this tune, and thanks to the top DJ's that have been hammering it for the last eight months or so it has already gained anthem status. Limited single-sided promos are now available, with a full release expected before the end of 2000. This one has some sweet soul-diva vocals and beautifully warped bassline and pads. The steppin beat winds away, then drops into the 'Love is not a game...' loop, before you are treated to the full delights of Kathy's voice. 'I don't wanna play these silly games no more...', you know it. All you really need to know is this is outstanding, J Majik at his best, delivering a slice of electronic soul heaven. This should not be missed, seek it out and snap it up. Wind your behind.
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RATING: 10/10
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DECODER "Vapour Rub (Re-Rub)" (Hardleaders)
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REVIEW BY: SPEX
Whoa!! Decoder has got to be one of the best producers in this world of Drum and Bass, and one of my all time favourites to boot. So when this came through it went straight on the 1210! Here we find, Mr Beale in remix mode, with the switch in titles to Vapour Dub Re-Rub. This has all the atmosphere of the original the twist coming when the beat drops! Tight crisp drums (bit of Amen) nice round bass. The sounds are all here, well what else would you expect? The flip Decoder comes with the & Link, this one is deep, deep, deep! Again neat n tidy arrangement ready to take you on the Decoder, Hard Leaders journey. Buy on sight!!
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RATING: 8/10
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DIGITAL - 'Deadline/Fix Up' - (31 Recordings)
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REVIEW BY: BoZ
Oh my gosh...this one is absolutely deadly. A favourite of Grooverider and many others over the past few months, this is Heavy (note the capital H). 'Deadline' kicks off with what has to be the most original beat used in drum & bass in many years. It's a scatty, bongo-laden, kick-fuelled affair with a particularly nasty sounding hi-hat, and gets you dancing in a most bizarre fashion. Maybe it's just me. After the initial break it all goes quiet, and some old school stabs prod you in the chest, before you are treated to a severe pummelling courtesy of the tribal bassline that follows soon after. Vicious.
To be honest, it doesn't really matter what the B side is like, because you are all going to buy it anyway but, as it happens, it's another killer cut from the Digital don. Hi-hats, dark bass and some incoherent vocal samples start things off, before it gains a killer break, far more familiar sounding than that of the A side but by no means any less slammin'. Proper steppers bizniss here, with some excellent fx and with a definite nod in the direction of 'Warhead' (that beat and the high pitched whine in the background) in feel. This here is proof that d&b can be dark without relying on distorted synth basslines, with Digital going more for the sort of tribal sound that many of us loved way back when. Now we've just got to wait for 'Spacefunk 2000', which should probably be on release early next year. As for this one, it's in the shops now, so act quickly.
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RATING: 9/10
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MC KENDO & CAB-E “Formulas” / “Whirlpools” (Machine Code).
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REVIEW BY: SPEX
This one is a bit of a special release from the Machine Code family, as its in the memory of a talent taken from this earth way before time, MC Kendo. Here we see Kendo teaming up with Cab-E for 2 killer dancefloor cuts. Formulas has all you need to rock the dancefloor, this is deep, dark n dangerous, you've been warned! This is getting worldwide attention from radio to the club DJ and setting the scene for Machine Code in 2001. Formulas kicks off with a funky two step arrangement with eerie sound FX in the breakdown where the bass riff filters in, boom its there! If you like ya DnB, fast, tight and furious this one's for you. The Bside, Whirlpools, is a mish mash of old meets new. Here we find the duo in old skool mode, a dark intro with some old skool riffs doin battle with the soundz and beats of today. A combination that is working at this point in the Drum and Bass Arena! Remember the name Machine Code in 2001.
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RATING: 8/10
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DRUMSOUND & SIMON BASSLINE SMITH "I need your love/Breakdown(Technique Recordings)
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REVIEW BY: BoZ
First up - ' I Need Your Love'. An atmospheric intro, with the vocal echoing around the speaker alongside some industrial sounding synth noises. Another amen led track here, and the intro skips along nicely, building gradually before dropping into a murderous synth bass build up. The amen comes back and rolls out nicely, halfway through it gains some more spooky sound effects before a slight bassline switch for the big finale.
'Breakdown' is a killer, and with it's bleeping intro and tight break it's a real mover. Old school inspired stabs come out to play, before it drops into the build up. The bleeps fade with a few bass squeals, and with a rolling kickdrum build up the track bursts into life. Head shaking bassline and old school stabs galore, this one is tidy.
Both sides of this are good, but 'Breakdown' really shines through and if this is a sign of things to come from the Technique recordings boys, I can't wait. Snap it up.
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RATING: 9/10
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PSYCHOSIS “Freefall EP” (Trouble On Vinyl)
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REVIEW BY: SPEX
Next release for Psychosis will be the super phat double pack, titled, Freefall EP. Four tunes to select Volatile and Blue Skies, here remixed by The Mighty Renegade Ray Keith, along with Crossfire and Freefall make this one of the best releases from TOV in a while. Freefall is a super dope Drum and Bass tune, its got a riff in it which gives it a James Brown kinda vibe. As soon as you hear this one you'll recognize it straight away (Rider has been droppin this one since September). Blue Skies, in a remix from Ray Keith, is along the lines of Something Outthere on UFO Records. The vocals, the break is amen with layers of percussion, giving it a live drum sound and the riffs are all in the Renegade style. Crossfire is a track that will take you to the Twilight Zone, filtered drums and a distorted bell tone take you to the darkest area of Psychosis mind, but wait theres more. Sliding bass takes you to a breakdown, take a breather, then the Amen kicks in and theres no turning back! The last track is Volatile, this is kind of experimental, it uses elecrtic guitar sounds the beats dont really go anywhere, its a bit of a filler for the EP. But 3 out 4 tracks aint bad.
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RATING: 7/10
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We would like to thank Spex & Boz For suppyling us with their reviews!
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