KABUKI "Beyond Words" (LIQUID V)

The German Jan Hennig, a veteran of the scene, hasn’t let down his fans of the more liquid and funkier kind of drum and bass, under the Kabuki name or in collaboration with Savine or Nico, creates great songs also for Reinforced Records. The new single is like a crowning of his career, on the most excellent label of liquid funk, on which Kabuki offers a brilliant single. “Beyond Words” is characterised by a piano melody but the general atmosphere mirrors the house disco universe whilst the flipside “Trailblazer” is more funky with a wah wah guitar and filtered horns.

POONISHER “Village Man/The Stunt " (MANTRA BREAKS)

The darkest producer from Mantra Breaks is back with his third single for feeding the floors that like a bit of unruly rhythms. “Village Man” is a worrying build up over a slightly electro rhythm with menacing far off voices that underline the blazing bassline that never gives up and is always sinister. More in the breaks norm is the track “The Stunt” which is also dark and catchy as the minutes pass but with a rave like synth.

ALLIED FORCE "Summer Madness" (JUST NOIZE)

A brilliant third single from Allied Force, on Just Noize, a label that is just starting out with a big liking for the more jazz like drum and bass. After the elegant single ‘Boomba’ from last year this new product also mirrors the Allied Force vocation towards funky jazz, they even dust off an old Kool & The Gang sample to offer new life force to a very stylish version that just has to be dance to. The flipside “Highly Strung” is more disco with some Rhodes and guitar and double bass bassline.

TEEBEE "State Of Unrest" (SUBTITLES)

The Norwegian Torgeir Byrkness, after two splendid albums and countless prestigious remixes, can be considered as a true star on the same level as some of the English D&B stars and as a consequence every one of his releases merits the highest attention. It is no fluke that this latest production is a single that has good tracks on both sides: “State Of Unrest” is particularly syncopated and aggressive but with an esoteric and fizzy feeling that makes it a one off. More rolling and introspective instead is “Retro Funk” with an even stronger groove and vocal.

ED209 vs. DAPPA DAN "Ting Dem" (HARDCORE BEATS)

For this latest breaks bomb, hardcore beats double up by proposing a track by distinct producers on both sides of the single, here then is ED209 who is helped along by MC Dappa Dan for a violent trot. “Ting Dem” has the characteristics for causing chaos on the floor with a very nervous verve and bass sounds that hit hard. The flip that has been looked after by Control-Z vs. Screwface can be distinguished by its dark aria, like a more violent drum and bass song, but with some precise editing on the beats and arrangement that is splendidly maniac like.

RONI SIZE "Time Out" (FULL CYCLE)

The superstar of the scene tries again, after the not so great releases of late. The good old Roni seems to have been resuscitated on the principal track, in fact “Time Out” reflects the old cannons of the good old Full Cycle hits with an ‘in your face’ bassline that takes front seat and a pulling rhythm with some samples of dilated vocals. Sadly though “Bite The Bullet” on the other side doesn’t have the usual ideas of our leading man with its circus melody and rhythm that doesn’t do much to the legs.

DJ MARKY & XRS "Misto Quente (V.I.P. mix)” (INNERGROUND)

A single with an artist on each side for this newest production from the much acclaimed Marky & XRS company. The principal song has been looked after by the boss of the household who we also saw on the ‘Bingo Session Vol. 2’ compilation last April, this V.I.P. version of “Misto Quente” has the warm jazzy disco atmosphere of the household with some far off chants and a running that stimulates some uncontrollable dancing. A great debut from TK who on the flipside shakes things up with “The Turkish”, a song that explodes the floors with its groove and style thanks to the powerful bassline and touches of strings.