Top 5 New Drum & Bass Releases

09 Feb 2010

Sub Focus

Sub Focus
Sub Focus LP
Ram
Easily the most hotly anticipated d&b album of the year, the Ram camp seem to have things on lock right now, following Chase & Status' massive 'More Than A Lot' LP with Sub Focus' debut effort. This looks absolutely certain to crossover to the mainstream with the widespread coverage that Mr Focus deserves. The CD version includes singles 'Timewarp', 'Rock It' and 'Follow The Light' with enough varying strands of excellently produced d&b to keep both the purists and newbies happy. Standouts include the futuristic roller 'Deep Space' and the out and out stompathon that is 'Let The Story Begin' which are both included on the vinyl alongside 'Vapourise' and 'World Of Hurt'. Sub Focus has truly thrown down the gauntlet on this record and left the rest of the scene playing catch up...

Drumsound & Bassline Smith
Maffia VIP / Overdrive
Worldwide Audio
The ever prolific Drumsound & Bassline Smith come correct on the VIP reworking of their massive 'Maffia', turning in another dancefloor monster. Retaining the original reggae sample, they step up the drumwork with a furious volley of snares and extra bass pressure, this one's set to be absolutely massive. 'Overdrive' is typical Drumsound & SBS fare, their own unique take on the jump-up sound, with a call and response synth line and stomping beats. Largeness.

Lenzman & Redeyes
High & Low / Thieves In The Night
Integral
Deep rolling business from this dream pairing of Dutch maestro Lenzman and French master Redeyes for AI's Integral label. 'High & Low' wears its soul influences proudly on it's sleeve with a smooth vocal and subtle instrumentation, this one a Summertime head nodder for sure. On 'Thieves In The Night' they draw for a deeper sound with warm bass and sultry piano licks for a more Autumnal feel. A blissful 12" all round.

Lemonde
Dead By Dawn / Nobody
Valve
The man like Lemonde represents once again for Valve on the much delayed 'Dead By Dawn'. Drawing a vocal sample from the original 'Evil Dead' horror movie, he brings snarling bass and spooky FX in an attempt to scare the heebee jeebees out of those on the dancefloor... (horror & bass anyone?). For flipside 'Nobody' he switches things up with a smooth intro vocal before going straight for the jugular with another surefire banger.

Rufige Kru vs Commix / Commix
Envious/ Justified
Metalheadz
Typically haunting stuff from the Metalheadz camp as Goldie & Heist (under their Rufige Kru moniker) join forces with the ever excellent Commix on this massive 12". 'Envious' fuses gnarly bass and choppy drums with Goldie's vocal to create a deep, dark dancefloor destroyer. Commix deliver 'Justified' for the flip, a stripped back melancholic stepper with heavy subs and rolling vibes aplenty.