DJ LAB – Touch – Top Drawer Digital
Skipping straight to Schoco’s remix of this DJ Lab original, there is only one word I can really use to describe it and that is 'beautiful'. Imagine the kind of music Omni Trio would have made if he’d been a future jungle artist, combined with the most ethereal atmospherics you can imagine. This would not have been out of place in a DJ Rap set 15 years ago, yet still sounds modern. Hats off to TTD for this one. If anything, this release shows that even a scene as young as future jungle has already created its own scale in terms of content and style. Light and shade. Yin and Yang. And that. Sublime.
Ragga Twins – Rate of Light – Urban Veteran
You’ve got to love the Ragga Twins. With more years in the game than most of us have had hot dinners these two are still totally focused and not only remain fresh, but also bang on trend. On this two track collaborative effort we see them join forces with Linden D and Noshad for opener ‘Rate of Light’. This is a breaks fuelled belter with interspersed vocal refrains from the Twins and vocal spat from Noshad. The flip sees MC Yardie spitting over some tripped out guitar distortion and skanking breaks supplied by Sam D and Defiance. Totally original and interesting.
Vinyl Junkie – The Joint EP – Warehouse Wax
Out now, this four track EP highlights that Vinyljunkie really knows his craft! The last 2 minutes of the opening track ‘Virus’ (with Backdraft) are just awesome, employing old school Belgian techno hoovers to the max. Track two ‘Forbidden Zone’ blends with many familiar sounds with crisp Amen edits. Tracks three and four (with Madcap and Peacemaker) give up some awesome breaks and old school piano tracks too. A really good value for money EP.
Lucas – Look at The Light – Top Drawer Digital
Lucas comes proper once again with the sloping, odd step skanker that is ‘Look at The Light’. If you’re into 4/4 jungle techno with a sci-fi atmosphere then this one is for you. Full Spektrum delivers a stuttering breaks remix that leaves your head spinning and your feet not knowing what they’re doing. Finally DJ Vinyljunkie offers up a wild, booming re-make with added drop tempo freakiness I’ve not heard anywhere else yet. A tip of the hat to the old skool era if ever there was one.
Bunter & Sanxion – Jump Around – Music Monday
The DJ edit of this track is future jungle with an old school twist, just as you’d expect from these two stalwarts of the scene. The word ‘screw face’ is probably the best way to describe the Radiokillaz remix of this already excellent track. The breakbeat tinkles around on the intro, then Spyda comes in (reminding me very much of the late, great Stevie Hyper D) and finally the drums are let loose. It’s a Killaz through and through. A MUST BUY!!
Ben & Lex – We Are back (Turn It Up) – Functional
A-side ‘We Are Back’ is a wild hybrid of squiggly noises and breaks. The B-side too sits with one foot in the breaks genre, but there’s no doubt that ‘Sound Gal 2012’ would go down a storm in any future jungle set. Reeking of weed and drenched in summer vibes, this reggae infused break-beat smasher yields a perfect blend of heads down stomp and arms up happiness. Euphoria in a digi-file!
Bring the Ruckus – LP - Passenger
You know a genre is coming into adulthood when LPs start appearing. With TTD and several other labels already putting out albums, Passenger Records now serve us ‘Bring The Ruckus’. This is one serious collection of beats, with artists ranging from Aquasky, Spyda, Black & Blunt and Mad Rush. This album is definitely on the breaks tip, but it does harbor some well-defined future jungle flavours in places. Stand out tracks on the sampler are Aquasky ft The Ragga Twins, Spyda and RTC with ‘Heatwave’. This is a full on vocal assault from these poetic giants laid over a funky Motown themed vocal refrain. ‘Move Your Body’ is more of a deep, twisted, utterly synthetic writher that borrows from everything from disco to dubstep. Immense stuff!
Electrux – Full Circle LP – Hardcore Lives
While not strictly future jungle; more a blend of trance, techno and everything in between, this excellent collection has been thoroughly well produced. Standout tracks are the acid tinged jungle techno roller ‘Viewpoint’, haunting 1990 flavoured breaks chugger ‘Mantis’ and the full on break beat assault that is ‘Resistance’. This LP takes me back to the days when artists felt free to really express themselves through the musical format they chose. A top class release from Hardcore Lives!
