ESSENTIAL REVIEWS 61
CONCEPT & SHNEK SABURUKO LYNX ATLANTIC CONNECTION MARTSMAN
– DREAMIN’ / ELECTRIFY – CLINTO’S BASEMENT – WHISTLESTOP / EAST TO – HANGIN’ ON – 8-BIT BOUNCER
BRIGAND INSIDE WEST FT. NU:TONE WESTBAY MED SCHOOL
DKay’s never-less-than-sublime Another genius track title, BRAND NU Atlantic Connection is one Yikes. Fans of Med School
imprint chalks up double another name carving an There’s no stopping Lynx at seriously cool cat. New album protégé Martsman might
figures in typically fine style, unmistakable notch on the moment, with a handful ‘Tomorrow’s Not Enough’ is need some genuine medical
as fellow Austrian countrymen 2008’s bedpost. Saburuko is of exceptional releases under sneakers-deep in clever r&b assistance if this one ever
Concept & Shnek press the in everyone’s box right now, his belt he now touches down vocals, velvet-smooth hip hop gets played six times in a row.
button marked “Dreamy” and ‘Clinto’s Basement’ is on Brand Nu, with a track that cameos, lucid liquid beats and The intriguingly-titled ‘8-Bit
really rather hard. Aptly-titled another reason as to exactly label owner Nu:Tone rightly all-round Westside-style d&b Bouncer’ does exactly what
‘Dreamin’’ sees a pleasant, why: sublime sample use (in described last issue as ‘old goodness – and latest single it says on the tin: a lurching,
2-steppy roller sunkissed by this case the The Wild Angels skool flavours... with new skool ‘Hanging On’ is cut from the glitching, hop-skip-jump of a
a vocal that sounds eerily like classic “Just what is it that sensibilities’; ‘Whistlestop’ same crisp cloth. A half-time robo-d&b tune, where Nintendo-
Mary Poppins – a fact that only you want to do?” once coined reminding this reviewer of the intro with some seriously peachy esque electro hooks weave like
adds to the sense of innocent, by Primal Scream), hypnotic, ’94 V sound, circa ‘Timestretch’ r&b stylings eventually makes radioactive eels above stepping,
floaty soulfulness very much original beats, eerie piano / ‘Phizical’. Its smooth winding way for a soulful, sassy drum snapping beats. ‘8-Bit Bouncer’
in evidence throughout – while and glitching static rumbling bassline is fresh yet classic, & bass stunner. If Dr Dre made will send the dancefloor
flip ‘Electrify’ boasts an equally underneath. A superb start to likewise the clicky-clunky break d&b, this is what it would sound absolutely mad (good) and the
escapist, Logistics-style aura. fledgling label Inside, the new and jazzy melody. Big. And the like: widescreen, slick, and casual home listener utterly
Horizons Music Group imprint. flipside link up with Nu:Tone is cocksure. And damn fine too. insane (not so good). Either way,
no slouch either. it’s actually rather brilliant.
SHAPESHIFTER – ONE ICICLE / DUB ONE DIRTY HARRY – SKANKERS SARDI VS GREG PACKER BARON
BRAND NU:X – BROKEN FINGERS / FRONTLINE – APACHE KILLA – TURN UP THE SUN /
Nu:Tone picks up this beautiful VOLCON Frontline continue their rich SOLÉ BLINKING WITH FISTS
vocal roller from New Zealand XTINCTION AGENDA vein of form with this huge ‘Apache Killa’ might just be BREAKBEAT KAOS
band Shapeshifter to kick off Icicle takes the A-side with release from man of the the most deceptively-named Summertime is pretty much
Brand Nu:X. The original drapes a chunky stepping track moment DJ Hazard under his track of all time. Instead of here and Baron has produced
sultry piano chords, warm featuring a vocal snippet the Dirty Harry guise. On ‘Skankers’ a BBK-style smashdown, a what could be the anthem of the
bouncing bass and yearning old soldiers will recognise, a string laden intro soon trim, summery roller wafts coming months with his latest
male vocals over its tight all dropping in cold, minimal gives way to a streamlined humbly from the vinyl instead. release on Breakbeat Kaos. ‘Turn
shuffling beats; with a second fashion to excellent effect. The morphing bass, rolling drums Confusing, but very welcome up the Sun’ is a feel-good tune
drop that adds extra grit, yet flip, meanwhile, from Dub One and insistent hi-hats. Simple all the same. Snapped up by with a deep, rolling bassline and
doesn’t take away from it being is what we call in the trade yet devastatingly effective. young imprint Solé Recordings haunting vocal that will be the
a proper sunshine tune. Just a proper Amen rinse out; or ‘Western Riddim’ rides in for its third release, newcomer perfect accompaniment to many
as good is D-Bridge’s remix, used to, at any rate. With a on a pounding groove and Sardi is a big wheel Down breaks of dawn between now
where Mr White opts for a more ‘light in the dark’ atmosphere, marches zombie-like straight Under, holding residencies at and September. It’s more of the
stepping beat to frame the mix splintering edits crash in at into your brain with no let up. Perth’s liveliest parties and now same with ‘Blinking With Fists’,
and chooses to create a more will, but not to the detriment of Heavyweight bizzle. making justified waves on this although the futuristic synths
ominous, yet no less emotive, the atmospheric judder-funk side of the globe. Hats off from give the flipside more of a jump-
atmosphere from the off. groove. Watch out. Kmag, this is hot stuff. up vibe.
DOM & ROLAND ZERO T & MOSUS DJ HAZARD ZERO T FT. STEO LENZMAN & SUBMORPHICS
– BRING IN THE FUNK / – CALL WAITING FT. STEO – MACHETE BASS EP – WALK AWAY – RESPIRATION / WAY
BUMP IN THE NIGHT / RUN TIME PLAYAZ CIA BACK WHEN
DRP LIQUID V Hazard’s latest release on Steo is without question the PHUNKFICKTION
Another excellent instalment While perhaps not hitting the Playaz is another spine-tingling vocalist of the moment when it Lenzman is creeping steadily
from Dom’s recent album, target dead centre with every EP of banging dancefloor tracks comes to sprinkling a d&b track into the D&B frame in 2008,
this one doing just as the title release, you know you’re in safe, that push bassline technology with some male tonsil-based and on this kind of form it’s
suggests on ‘Bring In The Funk’. professional hands with the to its limits. ‘Machete’ features gold, and his impossibly slick not hard to appreciate why.
Its vocal sample (‘is this DJ Liquid V camp. This time it’s an a killer horror film sample caresses on ‘Walk Away’, the ‘Respiration’ is as accomplished
bringing the funk for y’all?’) Ireland-meets-New Zealand before exploding into his rather weighty A-side to Irish a musical composition as you’ll
notches up extra DJ friendly affair, as Zero T and Mosus chisel trademark nastiness that will wizard Zero T’s ‘Cheap Shots’ hear anywhere this month:
points, while its gnarly riffs, the latest LV slab into existence leave sensitive souls cowering album sampler, are snippets dreamy beats, honey-dripped
chugging grooves and simple with effortless expertise. under the duvet, ‘Trouble Maker’ sent from heaven. Backdropped piano rolls, a touch of Memphis
beats give it widespread Impressive vocals by Steo lace is more of the same, while by stealthy, soulful tones brass and a bluesy vocal
dancefloor appeal. ‘Bump In some killer funk on ‘Call Waiting’, ‘Killers Don’t Die’ takes things and a shuffling, sensuous sample come together to form
The Night’ drops down in more while flip ‘Run Time’ goes seriously on a step with a firing intro and weave of crisped-up-nicely- a blissed-out masterpiece.
signature D&R sci-fi industrial deep with a bass throb that’ll some outstanding jump up thankyou beats, this is a subtle ‘Way Back When’ pulls similar
territory with its unsettling make knees quiver from Dublin to breaks and ‘Cowards Beware’ masterpiece of monstrous punches to slightly less effect,
heavyweight sound sure to Auckland. rounds things off nicely with proportions. but is a breezy, pleasant
please long-standing supporters. some double time madness. accompaniment all the same.
K60-63_EssentialReviews.indd 61 25/4/08 14:38:48
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