Album Releases

Below are some of our finest album releases of this week - every week we recommend you four albums along our "Album Of The Week" for your shopping list.

  This Week's Essential Albums 14./21./28.12.2007

DJ Muffler

Sighco Show

(Sighco)

Following massive success on Hospital Records with the stunning 'Mermaids'/'Waves Breaking', DJ Muffler (real name Konsta Mikkonen) is back on his own SighCo imprint with an action packed mix CD that guarantees to get your heart racing.

The ‘SighCo Show’ is a full length, low-priced CD album that features 15 of Muffler’s hottest new and exclusive tracks including some heavy duty 2007 VIP mixes.

Using both traditional live DJ mixing and the latest studio trickery, Muffler takes this mix to the next level and gives the listener a breathtaking journey through all styles of drum'n'bass: jump-up, neurofunk, liquid, deep, dark, drumfunk, it’s all here, making this CD essential listening for any drum'n'bass fan.

Urbanthology

V/A (Terry T)

(Nu Urban Music)

For those not in the know, during the 1990s Knowledge & Wisdom became a label renowned for releasing dancefloor drum'n'bass with specially recorded reggae, ragga and R&B vocals from some of the best artists around. Affiliated with the legendary Congo Natty crew and owned by Terry T, Knowledge & Wisdom’s back catalogue has become hot property with the popularity of their sound never waning across the last decade.

To that end, Urbanthology has taken it upon themselves to gather up a bunch of Knowledge & Wisdom’s best bits and enlist Terry T himself to mix them up for your aural pleasure.

It’s clear to see that the line up of artists on vocal duties will get any self respecting ragga jungle fan coughing their rice and peas up in a fit of excitement. Simply: if you like ragga jungle, buy it!

Never MInd The Pan Pipes

Indie Pan Pipe Hits

(Ernest Music)

A twist on the traditional pan pipe album, Never Mind The Pan Pipes cover fifteen indie hits for a journey through contemporary music – a captivating twist on traditional pan pipe albums.

An album to appeal to pan pipe enthusiasts as well as indie fans, ‘Indie Pan Pipe Hits’ features pan pipe versions of well loved tracks by The White Stripes, Gossip and The Pigeon Detectives amongst others.

The perfect Christmas stocking-filler.

Vernon Elliott Ensemble

Ivor The Engine

(Trunk)

These 1960's children’s television soundtracks recall an age when youngsters were addressed as equals by eccentric puppeteers, rather than patronised by would-be glamour models, but it’s the music that really tugs the heartstrings.

Elliott’s chuffing little Ivor score relocates the American jazz composer Jimmy Giuffre’s Western Suite to the valleys, while the collections of Pogles cues entitled Magical Noises are Stockhausen’s Stimmung in miniature.

Trunk Records siphons the lost wellspring.

Jalapeno Funk

V/A (Trevor Mac)

(Jalapeno)

'Jalapeno Funk' is the sound of all the breakbeat funk producers who are moving their sound out of the bars and onto the main floor.

Taking the funk magic that makes the people shake their asses but giving it the beef and the breaks to work on a main room floor. It's not gonna appeal to the "put-your-hands-up for another pill" brigade but it's a sound that has a growing appeal around the world as the international nature of this compilation shows.

Featuring tracks from All Good Funk Alliance, Flow Dynamics, Telesfor, Sneaky Fox, Kraak & Smaak, D´Stephanie, all the way through to home grown talent like Skeewiff and Soopasoul, Dr Rubberfunk and Flash Callahan, it's a good time to be involved in dance music with soul.

The compilation comes with a bonus CD mixed by Jalapeno label boss and Jalapeno Sound System resident Trevor Mac.

  This Week's Essential Albums 07.12.2007

Jalapeno Funk

V/A (Trevor Mac)

(Jalapeno)

'Jalapeno Funk' is the sound of all the breakbeat funk producers who are moving their sound out of the bars and onto the main floor.

Taking the funk magic that makes the people shake their asses but giving it the beef and the breaks to work on a main room floor. It's not gonna appeal to the "put-your-hands-up for another pill" brigade but it's a sound that has a growing appeal around the world as the international nature of this compilation shows.

Featuring tracks from All Good Funk Alliance, Flow Dynamics, Telesfor, Sneaky Fox, Kraak & Smaak, D´Stephanie, all the way through to home grown talent like Skeewiff and Soopasoul, Dr Rubberfunk and Flash Callahan, it's a good time to be involved in dance music with soul.

The compilation comes with a bonus CD mixed by Jalapeno label boss and Jalapeno Sound System resident Trevor Mac.

Rinse 02

V/A (Skream)

(Rinse FM)

Each instalment of the “Rinse” series reflects the sounds championed by UK radio station Rinse FM with each DJ showing us their perspective of British pirate music by way of track selection and tempo of mix.

Next up is dubstep’s deserved forefather, the mighty Skream. Still in step with his ska-tinged, head bobbing productions, Skream offers exclusive new tracks from his vault, such as 'Murderer', 'Oit', 'Kum Ere Sun' and 'Refuel', all delivering blistering basslines whilst keeping the dutty, low-frequency skank purring in the background. They’re lined up next to apocalyptic tracks like Rusko and Caspa’s bowel shifting 'Bread Get Bun', dubstep figurehead Benga’s '26 Basslines', the shape shifting Kode 9’s 'Badawi' remix and Skream’s own stunning reinterpretation of The Black Ghosts' 'Some Way Through This'.

It’s clear that Skream utilizes his dexterity and eclecticism to maximum impact.

As Far As We Go...

V/A (B-Cee)

(Spearhead)

Spearhead Records is without doubt one of the drum'n'bass success stories of the last few years. Label owner and producer B-Cee’s dedication to releasing rock solid dancefloor tracks with plenty of musical edge has paid off and won his label critical acclaim from all corners of the electronic music spectrum.

‘As Far As We Go, And Back Again’ is Spearhead’s first compilation CD, a 17‑track effort expertly mixed by B-Cee himself.

Featuring on the CD are all of the highlights from their burgeoning back catalogue with hot tracks and remixes from TC, Logistics, Atlantic Connection, Danny Byrd, Lomax, LAOS, Mutt and many more.

Pako & Frederik

The Alert

(GU Music)

Pako and Frederik return to GU Music with a stunning new artist album 'The Alert'.

The boys' show poise and conviction with every turn that the album takes, whether building tension in the opener ‘The Laak’, or supplying blissful grooves on the track ‘Enclose Modulus’.

The album is segued together to create an engaging listening experience, a complete piece of work carefully considered to enhance your enjoyment of the album.

As winter draws in, let Pako & Frederik warm you with their sublime and elegantly crafted new record – 'The Alert'.

30Hz

Electric Sheep

(Lot49)

‘Electric Sheep’ is the debut album from genre busting DJ/producer 30Hz and is set to take the man behind the mini moniker into the limelight, so step forward James Ginzburg.

As a DJ, 30Hz has become a performer to look out for, lighting up gigs across Australia, Europe, and North America, as well as performing numerous times on BBC Radio 1 including a live broadcast from London’s “Fabric” on Annie Nightingale’s show earlier this year.

What to say about ‘Electric Sheep’ though? Well, expect the unexpected. This is a long player that draws on the raw talent of one of the best producers out there and skips effortlessly between genres, bringing an energy and excitement often missing from today’s dance albums.

  This Week's Essential Albums 30.11.2007

30Hz

Electric Sheep

(Lot49)

‘Electric Sheep’ is the debut album from genre busting DJ/producer 30Hz and is set to take the man behind the mini moniker into the limelight, so step forward James Ginzburg.

As a DJ, 30Hz has become a performer to look out for, lighting up gigs across Australia, Europe, and North America, as well as performing numerous times on BBC Radio 1 including a live broadcast from London’s “Fabric” on Annie Nightingale’s show earlier this year.

What to say about ‘Electric Sheep’ though? Well, expect the unexpected. This is a long player that draws on the raw talent of one of the best producers out there and skips effortlessly between genres, bringing an energy and excitement often missing from today’s dance albums.

Geiom

Island Noise

(Berkane Sol)

Following an acclaimed series of five 12” vinyl releases, the Berkane Sol label brings its long awaited first CD album by Nottingham based producer Geiom.

'Island Noise' combines dancefloor dynamics with real attention to song structure and an intricate and playful use of dub style delays that make it well suited to home listening but still heavy on a sound system. Exploring the many possibilities of the 140 tempo, tracks such as ‘Inbuilt Chaos’ and ‘Getaline’ feel something like languid, laid back dub, whilst tracks like ‘6 Times 7’ and ‘Cardoza’ pick up the pace with some crisp two-step riddims.

Geiom draws a whole world of music into his menagerie of sound.

Soma Compilation 2007

Various

(Soma)

After arguably one of the best years ever for the label in terms of output, Soma Recordings compile a collection of the year’s many highlights.

On this Soma compilation get we some good old-fashioned IDM from Black Dog, a trancey nine minuter from the Slam camp, Repeat Repeat providing a high calibre remix of Let's Go Outside's 'I'll Lick Your Spine', Silicone Soul's tuneful '3am', Funk D'Void's soulful electro house, Lee Van Dowski with lots of high end, digital definition on the compressed beat, My Robot Friend's 'Rapture' getting a Vector Lovers overhaul, only for Alex Smoke's reductive reworking of The Unknown Wanderer's 'Don't Start Just Finish It' to turn things around again.

A Decade Of C.I.A. Records

V/A (Total Science)

(C.I.A.)

Can you remember what you were doing ten years ago? What Total Science were doing was setting up what would become one of the pioneering labels of the drum'n'bass scene: Computer Integrated Audio.

Now, in celebration to their now grown up and rather attractive baby, Total Science have decided to release a retrospective mix CD which features some of the highlights of the last ‘Decade’ and some of the highlights of the next.

Artists featured include Bungle, Total Science, The Kox, DJ Vapour, Q-Project, Makoto, Splittin Atoms, Marky, C.A.B.L.E., and Zero Tolerance & Beta 2.

Burial

Untrue

(Hyperdub)

Burial returns with 'Untrue', a new record of weird soul music, which lovingly processes spectral female voices into vaporised R&B and smudged two-step garage.

Vocal lines are blurred, smeared, pitched up pitched down and pitch bent until their content is cast adrift from their original context and they whisper their saccharin sweet nothings into the void.

The album continues with the debut's crackle-drenched yearning and bustling syncopations, haunted by the ghosts of rave, but also reveals some new Burial treats with a more glowing, upbeat energy.

'Untrue' is available as full 13 track digipack CD, including recent underground hit 'Ghost Hardware', and 9 track DJ friendly double vinyl set, from which some of the beatless pieces have been edited.

  This Week's Essential Albums 23.11.2007

Burial

Untrue

(Hyperdub)

Burial returns with 'Untrue', a new record of weird soul music, which lovingly processes spectral female voices into vaporised R&B and smudged two-step garage.

Vocal lines are blurred, smeared, pitched up pitched down and pitch bent until their content is cast adrift from their original context and they whisper their saccharin sweet nothings into the void.

The album continues with the debut's crackle-drenched yearning and bustling syncopations, haunted by the ghosts of rave, but also reveals some new Burial treats with a more glowing, upbeat energy.

'Untrue' is available as full 13 track digipack CD, including recent underground hit 'Ghost Hardware', and 9 track DJ friendly double vinyl set, from which some of the beatless pieces have been edited.

DJ Marky & Friends

The Master Plan

(Innerground)

DJ Marky returns to the studio for a long awaited new mix album straight from the Innerground Records vault.

Following on from the successes of ‘The Brazilian Job’ (Movement) and ‘Bingo Sessions 2’ (Bingo), the new studio mix ‘The Master Plan’ is a rollercoaster ride through the latest, greatest and as yet unreleased tracks from DJ Marky’s groundbreaking label Innerground Records.

Featuring a host of the tracks, which made the label what it is today, from artists such as Calibre, DJ Marky & XRS, Random Movement and Zero Tolerance & Beta 2 and recorded on a 100% live setup, ‘The Master Plan’ is set to be the mix album of the year.

Bogdan Raczynski

Alright

(Rephlex)

Hot on the heels of his 2002 world hit slammer album ’Renegade Platinum Mega Dance Attack Party’ (a secret underground collaboration with Bjork), Bogdan Raczynski is back after a five year hiatus to present the Holy Grail of raving.

Dubbed ’Alright’, the albums' eight tracks take you on a critical mission to save the planet, nay the galaxy from absolute boredom and stupefying seriousness.

‘Alright’ is a joyful spice blend of old-school rave, new school eurodance power, original hardcore dance vibes and only the best in acid energy to inject a touch of joy and magical power.

Space And Time

V/A

(Hotflush)

Hotflush Recordings is a label that from the beginning has pushed the musical boundaries of dubstep. Over the last four years the label has released more than 25 innovative 12” singles, launching some of the biggest names in the scene and introducing more new talent than anyone else.

‘Space And Time’ is a compilation of exclusive, unreleased, ground-breaking tracks that illustrates the other side of dubstep in 2007.

The compilation features the debut from the incredibly exciting live act Jazzsteppa, along with appearances from the first female dubstep producer of note, Vaccine, established names such as Boxcutter and Scuba, and remixes by the legendary Si Begg and distortion dub kings Vex’d.

‘Space And Time’ is the sound of the future and the sound of now.

Ils

Paranoid Prophets

(Botchit & Scarper)

Breakbeat mastermind Ils (real name Ilian Walker) follows up ‘Idiots Behind The Wheel’ (on Fuel Records), ‘Soul Trader’ (Marine Parade), and ‘Bohemia’ (Distinctive) with his new long player.

For his new album ‘Paranoid Prophets’, Ils has reshaped his sound once again, drawing influence from right across the musical board. Soaked with his trademark choppy organic drums and low-end bass tones ‘Paraniod Prophets’ sees Ils push his sound to a whole new level.

“Breaks maverick’s assured standout fourth album! Don't be surprised if this ends up on a Hollywood soundtrack” (iDJ Mag).

  This Week's Essential Albums 16.11.2007

Ils

Paranoid Prophets

(Botchit & Scarper)

Breakbeat mastermind Ils (real name Ilian Walker) follows up ‘Idiots Behind The Wheel’ (on Fuel Records), ‘Soul Trader’ (Marine Parade), and ‘Bohemia’ (Distinctive) with his new long player.

For his new album ‘Paranoid Prophets’, Ils has reshaped his sound once again, drawing influence from right across the musical board. Soaked with his trademark choppy organic drums and low-end bass tones ‘Paraniod Prophets’ sees Ils push his sound to a whole new level.

“Breaks maverick’s assured standout fourth album! Don't be surprised if this ends up on a Hollywood soundtrack” (iDJ Mag).

Hyper

Rewired

(Kilowatt)

Constantly at the cutting edge of dance music since the turn of the millennium, Hyper (real name Guy Hatfield) is a DJ in world-wide demand. From the Far East to Australia, across the breadth of the United States and throughout Europe, his sets are never less than perfect, blending blistering beats and ripping bass with a panache that is the envy of the dance world.

His latest offering ’Rewired’, released through Kilowatt, goes back to his DJ roots, picking  up  where he left off, effortlessly looping and twisting some of the most on point sounds around into an hour long excursion through a highly charged selection of floor smashing cuts that have been the mainstay of his record bag on recent gigs.

With new and exclusive tracks from Ils, Alex Metric, Rogue Element, and of course Hyper, this is a mix not to be missed!

2020 Vision

V/A (Ralph Lawson)

(20:20 Vision)

20:20 Vision Recordings boss Ralph Lawson mixes up the label's recent releases on his latest compilation.

20:20 Vision sprung to life in the mid-nineties in a studio-cum-farmhouse outside of Leeds. The early sound of the label looked to Detroit and Chicago, while more recently the label has taken a more tech house approach with home-grown English talent, even scoring one of the biggest underground hits of 2006 with Paul Woolford's 'Erotic Discourse'.

Ralph Lawson's '2020Vision' is a single CD mix that includes recent 20:20 Vision highlights from local-boys-made-good Simon Baker, Paul Woolford, Burnski and Audiojack. International signings on the compilation include Stephan Bodzin and Marc Romboy, The Youngsters and Spirit Catcher.

Retrospect Vol. 1

V/A (Krust & Jumping Jack Frost)

(V Recordings)

V Recordings presents ‘Retrospect Vol. 1’ featuring 22 classic tracks taken from the impressive back catalogue of this drum'n'bass heavyweight.

The track list is mighty. CD1 compiled by DJ Krust starts off with his iconic track ‘Warhead’ with its sparse heavy rolling beats and includes DJ Die’s ‘Autumn’, classic Dillinja with ‘Soul Control’ and Krust's ‘Angles’ and Roni Size’s ‘Dayz’. The tracks are not mixed so the full effect of each one is played out till the end.

Jumping Jack Frost takes over on CD2 and there’s no let up. First up is Adam F with ‘Brand New Funk’, followed by Roni Size’s ‘It’s A Jazz Thing’ and including a remix of Ed Rush & Optical’s ‘Funktion’, Roni Size's ‘It's Jazzy’, Scorpio's ‘Lili’, and the UK Top 20 hit ‘LK’ by DJ Marky & XRS.

This is the first time that many of these tracks will be available unmixed on CD. This is a classic album in every sense of the word.

Yacht

I Believe In You...

(Err)

This is the debut release by Portland Oregon artist Yacht on Err Recordings, the new label set up by two people from Tomlab and XL Recordings.

The songs that make ‘I Believe In You, Your Magic Is Real’ travel well – they’re wide and warm-hearted, not unlike Yacht himself, bouncing without pretension from iPod to turntable, as buoyant and easy in a kid’s bedroom as they are echoing across a huge crowd, pouring from a jukebox, or woven thoughtfully into a mix tape.

What makes these songs so accessible – apart from their undeniable vigour, or their fractured, crystalline pop sensibility – is the strength of their objective. Behind the beats and the choruses, which come from left-field and bloom into frenetic dance breaks, are big ideas about how positive thinking, optimism, and luck can replace blind faith in a world without a lot of white gloves, or magic.

  This Week's Essential Albums 09.11.2007

Yacht

I Believe In You...

(Err)

This is the debut release by Portland Oregon artist Yacht on Err Recordings, the new label set up by two people from Tomlab and XL Recordings.

The songs that make ‘I Believe In You, Your Magic Is Real’ travel well – they’re wide and warm-hearted, not unlike Yacht himself, bouncing without pretension from iPod to turntable, as buoyant and easy in a kid’s bedroom as they are echoing across a huge crowd, pouring from a jukebox, or woven thoughtfully into a mix tape.

What makes these songs so accessible – apart from their undeniable vigour, or their fractured, crystalline pop sensibility – is the strength of their objective. Behind the beats and the choruses, which come from left-field and bloom into frenetic dance breaks, are big ideas about how positive thinking, optimism, and luck can replace blind faith in a world without a lot of white gloves, or magic.

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Commix

Call To Mind

(Metalheadz)

There are some drum'n'bass albums that ignore the boundaries of the scene, such as Goldie ‘Timeless’ (as an universal hymn to inner city life), Reprazent ‘New Forms’ (giving a brilliant twist to jazz and soul), or Pendulum ‘Hold Your Colour’ (packed with heavy rock hooks). Commix' ‘Call To Mind’ is one of them, offering a subtle fusion of the purest techno, the deepest Philly soul, and stunning drum'n'bass rhythms.

Over eleven tracks, ‘Call To Mind’ shows off the depth of Commix' musical knowledge and their production talent. While the rhythms are firmly rooted in drum'n'bass, Commix display a crispiness of production and high-impact simplicity with deep, lush atmospheres and strong organic touches.

“If it calls to mind anything, it’s the phrase ‘Drum'n'Bass Album Of The Year” (iDJ 5/5).

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Kitsune Boombox

V/A (Jerry Bouthier)

(Kitsune)

London’s latest club extraordinaire "BoomBox" teams up with forward-thinking Parisian label Kitsuné for an exciting DJ mix project.

BoomBox’s main resident DJ Jerry Bouthier has long helped establishing bridges with the Parisian gang, frequently sharing the bill with the Kitsuné DJs in Paris and abroad and nurturing a similar passionate fondness for all things fusing rock, electro, rave and everything else in between.

With a track listing that looks set to include the exclusive come back from house legends S’Express, Digitalism, Daft Punk, Simian Mobile Disco, The Glimmers & Princess Superstar, Siobhan Donaghy (ex-Sugababes), Feist, Rex The Dog, Chromeo and new comers Big Face, Revolte, The Young Punx and more, the mix is shaping up to offer to the world a fabulous insight of what happens at BoomBox every Sunday.

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10 Tons Heavy

V/A (DJ Hatcha)

(Planet Mu)

Dubstep truly is the sound of now, and what better way for Planet Mu Records to celebrate its own unique journey through this fresh genre over the last few years than an extremely huge compilation.

With Boxcutter, Milanese, and Vex'd all pushing the sound to an extreme new level and the more straight‑up work of Pinch, Distance, and MRK1 ensuring the original bass-weight is still intact, Mike Paradinas takes the sound of now into the future.

CD1 is a collection of the finest, deepest tunes released on Planet Mu over the last four years, and CD2 is a special bonus mix by Kiss FM's DJ Hatcha, containing massive new tunes from Planet-Mu's freshest artists in the scene.

'Heavy' is a word overused in describing dubstep releases, but compilations such as this are few and far between. Weighing more than two double decker buses, '10 Tons Heavy' is the sound.

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Shut Up & Dance

The Great British Public

(Shut Up And Dance)

From the very first album ‘Dance Before The Police Come’ released back in 1990, right through to ‘Reclaim The Streets’ (2003), the standard achieved by Shut Up & Dance has always been at the highest level. To the duo behind the label PJ & Smiley, making music is so much more than just a job, it’s a lifestyle...

Their latest offering is ‘The Great British Public’, an album two years in the making, and it’s certainly been well worth the wait. The triple-CD package contains 14 brand new tracks from the originators plus many bonus remixed tracks.

Containing such titles as ‘Da Night Bus’, ‘Welcome To My Wild Side’, and ‘Make The Needle Jump’ , this is one slamming collection of music that all music lovers are going to truly appreciate. The CD also contains an exclusive live in the mix session featuring the guys on the decks and mic, doing what they love the most, rocking the place.

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  This Week's Essential Albums 02.11.2007

Shut Up & Dance

The Great British Public

(Shut Up And Dance)

From the very first album ‘Dance Before The Police Come’ released back in 1990, right through to ‘Reclaim The Streets’ (2003), the standard achieved by Shut Up & Dance has always been at the highest level. To the duo behind the label PJ & Smiley, making music is so much more than just a job, it’s a lifestyle...

Their latest offering is ‘The Great British Public’, an album two years in the making, and it’s certainly been well worth the wait. The triple-CD package contains 14 brand new tracks from the originators plus many bonus remixed tracks.

Containing such titles as ‘Da Night Bus’, ‘Welcome To My Wild Side’, and ‘Make The Needle Jump’ , this is one slamming collection of music that all music lovers are going to truly appreciate. The CD also contains an exclusive live in the mix session featuring the guys on the decks and mic, doing what they love the most, rocking the place.

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Ant MIles

Visitations

(Liftin Spirit)

Ant Miles and Liftin Spirit Records (the Ram Records offshoot) present this debut drum'n'bass album after 13 monumental years on the scene.

CD1 features a special debut mix by Ant Miles of all the latest tracks, the majority of which are unreleased. Various high profile Ram artists have visited the Ram studios to work with Ant Miles over the last five years with phenomenal results, covering the bases with ‘Tear It Up’ featuring the vocals of Dianne Charlemagne through to the club smasher ‘Apparition’, a collaboration between Ant and Andy C. This album is a fitting testimony to the labels impact since it started back in 1994 and a celebration of the bonds between the producers involved, who are now legendary.

The second CD will feature 12 specially selected tracks from the Liftin Spirit back catalogue, most of which have never previously been on CD.

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Boxcutter

Glyphic

(Planet Mu)

Boxcutter returns for his second album on Planet Mu Recordings.

Continuing his hugely successful trademark dubstep/electronica sound from the 2006 album ’Oneiric’, the ante has definitely been upped and ’Glyphic’ certainly delivers.

From the opening title track, Boxcutter’s totally unique sound excels. Floating pads and astral jazz samples sit above deep dub basses, with all manner of instruments thrown into the mix, resulting in a beautiful noise throughout.

Boxcutter is an artist who pushes the dubstep sound to a new level whilst keeping the dub roots of the music firmly intact, injecting a truly unique flavour to everything he produces.

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Dubstep Drama

V/A

(Rinse FM)

Rinse FM is proud to present ‘Dubstep Drama’, the official soundtrack to the current Channel 4 TV series ‘Dubplate Drama’.

Race through the twelve rollercoaster episodes and you’ll hear the sound of Croydon’s baddest bassheads percolating under the increasingly heavy drama, adding next level suspense and a whole new sonic dimension.

Dubstep, a once-niche concern in places like Croydon, Chapeltown and Easton has turned into a force gathering pace in Osaka, Melbourne and Helsinki. Listen hard enough and you’ll hear the sparse remnants of 80s soul, heavy rave, molecule-shifting dub, valium jungle and energetic, shadowy garage, all spun up into something positive and powerful.

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TC

Evolution

(D-Style)

2007 has undoubtedly been TC’s, and the icing of the cake is the release of his debut album.

'Evolution' includes TC's four hit singles (‘Deep’, ‘Jump’, ‘Rockstar’, and ‘Where’s My Money’), that haven’t been made available on CD format until now, as well as a whole host of soon-to-be hits such as 'Get That Girl', 'Drink', ‘F*ck What You Heard' and 'Raise The Roof'.

From start to finish the vibe is great dancefloor tracks kicking off with the massive 'Rockstar', from then on were treated to 'Get That Girl', 'Where's My Money' and DJ faves 'Deep' and 'Drink' that feature MC Jakes who carries off some great lyrics.

In addition to the album, there will also be a limited edition double-pack CD which will feature a mix from The Scratch Perverts with exclusive unreleased material, brand new video & documentary footage.

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  This Week's Essential Albums 26.10.2007

TC

Evolution

(D-Style)

2007 has undoubtedly been TC’s, and the icing of the cake is the release of his debut album.

'Evolution' includes TC's four hit singles (‘Deep’, ‘Jump’, ‘Rockstar’, and ‘Where’s My Money’), that haven’t been made available on CD format until now, as well as a whole host of soon-to-be hits such as 'Get That Girl', 'Drink', ‘F*ck What You Heard' and 'Raise The Roof'.

From start to finish the vibe is great dancefloor tracks kicking off with the massive 'Rockstar', from then on were treated to 'Get That Girl', 'Where's My Money' and DJ faves 'Deep' and 'Drink' that feature MC Jakes who carries off some great lyrics.

In addition to the album, there will also be a limited edition double-pack CD which will feature a mix from The Scratch Perverts with exclusive unreleased material, brand new video & documentary footage.

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Digital

Phoenix Rising

(Function)

This album marks the return of one of the UK's most innovative drum'n'bass producers, Digital (real name Steve Carr).

After a two year hiatus the Ipswich based Digital is truly back on form with this ten track offering on his own imprint Function Records which boasts the Rufige Kru remix of ‘Space Funk’, one of Digital's early hits which helped to establish him as a major force on the drum'n'bass scene, plus a new mix of dancefloor anthem ‘Deadline’ by Simon “Bassline” Smith and Drumsound.

True Digital fans will be glad to know that he has not strayed from his own unique style of dub-influenced, heavy basslines and hard hitting breaks, and that his new collaboration with French drum'n'bass icon Lutin has only served to take the production to new levels of tightness.

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Vashti Bunyan

Some Things Just Stick In Your MInd

(Fat Cat)

The next chapter in Vashti Bunyan’s incredible story centres around rare and previously unheard material from 1964-1967, before the fabled, much-revered ‘Just Another Diamond Day’.

This double CD/double vinyl album features the Jagger/Richards penned ‘Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind’, and Vashti Bunyan’s two other rare Decca singles, alongside previously unheard acetates, unreleased singles and other rarities.

The second disc is of Vashti’s first ever recording session – discovered only days before the album as it stood was about to be mastered.

‘Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind’ nevertheless stands up as a strong release next to ‘Just Another Diamond Day’ and unearths another beautifully fragile chapter in Vashti Bunyan’s history.

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Beatz & Bobz 7

V/A (Rennie Pilgrem)

(Functional)

To celebrate a decade in dance, established breakbeat club night “Beatz & Bobz” has teamed up with sister label Functional to release the seventh instalment in their compilation series.

Following mixes from the likes of Tayo, Atomic Hooligan and Dreadzone, they have drafted in another heavyweight of the scene, calling in Rennie Pilgrem to deliver an exclusive live mix combining the great and the good of what the breaks scene has to offer.

Recorded live at his “Cavern Club” gig this June, Rennie expands on the formula he first utilised over four years ago for Perfecto, when he recorded the first ever Ableton Live mix album. Incorporating live keyboards, samples and MCing, Rennie uses the experience he has gained with his TCR Allstars Band to deliver a CD, which perfectly captures the unique atmosphere of a “Beatz & Bobz” night.

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Ed Solo & Skool Of Thought

Random Acts Of Kindness

(Against The Grain)

From the label that brought you The Freestylers and Krafty Kuts comes the latest underground sensation, Ed Solo & Skool Of Thought.

If you had to list the top 10 hottest DJ/producers in breaks over the past twelve months, Ed Solo & Skool Of Thought would be dead certs for a podium finish. Hotter than an aerobics class held in a sauna, they have cemented a reputation for laying down insane tracks and solid record sales to boot, occasionally out-selling their aforementioned super star peers.

'Random Acts Of Kindness' encompasses all of the sounds and styles that have influenced the pair over the years; from soul, funk and reggae to drum'n'bass, hip-hop and breaks.

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  This Week's Essential Albums 19.10.2007

Ed Solo & Skool Of Thought

Random Acts Of Kindness

(Against The Grain)

From the label that brought you The Freestylers and Krafty Kuts comes the latest underground sensation, Ed Solo & Skool Of Thought.

If you had to list the top 10 hottest DJ/producers in breaks over the past twelve months, Ed Solo & Skool Of Thought would be dead certs for a podium finish. Hotter than an aerobics class held in a sauna, they have cemented a reputation for laying down insane tracks and solid record sales to boot, occasionally out-selling their aforementioned super star peers.

'Random Acts Of Kindness' encompasses all of the sounds and styles that have influenced the pair over the years; from soul, funk and reggae to drum'n'bass, hip-hop and breaks.

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200

V/A

(Planet Mu)

Planet Mu celebrates its 200th release with a massive, bargain-priced 26 track double CD and limited double vinyl.

Released to coincide with the label’s tenth birthday and titled simply ’200’, it is, as tradition dictates, a compilation. Bringing together many of the last year’s classic vinyl only 12" releases such as Darqwan and Ceephax with exclusives from Boxcutter, Venetian Snares, U-Ziq, Luke Vibert, Milanese, Neil Landstrumm, Benga and many others, it’s 200% gold.

Featuring tracks from newer signings Ital Tek, The Doubtful Guest and FFF alongside label stalwarts doing exclusive collaborations such as Hellfish vs Shitmat and Syntheme vs Chevron, we hope you’ll agree this is a worthwhile celebration of two milestones.

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Watch The Ride

V/A (DJ Zinc)

(Harmless)

'Watch The Ride' is Harmless' new DJ mix series which features the best up-and-coming and established DJ talent that the UK, Europe and the rest of the world has to offer.

Following Scratch Perverts and Groove Armada's Tom Findlay is Bingo boss DJ Zinc. The mix sees Zinc serving up a super fresh selection of cuts from his seminal Bingo Beats label, including the exclusive new version of his jungle mega-anthem 'Super Sharp Shooter' and boxfresh beats from the likes of Commix, Logistics and Break, Zinc flies through a tearing 24 track, upfront mix with the man himself describing it as a “great example of what I'm playing right now, beats that are working on dancefloors and at festivals around the world“. On microphone duties are Dynamite MC, Stamina and Eksman, with cameos by MC’s JME & Riko.

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Andy Lewis

You Should Be Hearing Something Now

(Acid Jazz)

Following in the footsteps of artists such as Amy Winehouse and Candy Payne, the 60's flavoured nu-soul revival continues in grand fashion with 'You Should Be Hearing Something Now' - the superb second album from Acid Jazz' rising star Andy Lewis.

Without question, one of the stand-out tracks on 'You Should Be Hearing Something Now' is the duet with The Modfather himself, Paul Weller, on the Northern Soul belter 'Are You Trying To Be Lonely'.

Andy Lewis came to prominence initially as one of the main DJs behind the early Britpop explosion. His CV includes a residency at Camden's infamous "Blow Up" as well as a stint as Blur's tour DJ before going on to make his own music as a bass player (in Pimlico and Spearmint) and then as a producer and artist in his own right, with his debut album 'Billion Pound Project' receiving critical acclaim on its release in 2005.

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Slovo

Todo Cambia

(Brixtown)

Slovo present their second album 'Todo Cambia' with unique contributions from UK hip hop MC Bobby Whiskers, singer Andrea Britton, writer Arundhati Roy, Bolivian activist Oscar Olivera, Palestinian MC Boikutt and US political prisoner George Jackson among others.

With a sound rooted in Slovo’s native London, this album continues to explore the questions presented by the wider world with an uncompromising but personal, honest and contemplative stance.

'An adventurous and spellbinding work that fuses traditional and contemporary, political and poetic' (Q Magazine).

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