urban essence
TOTW: Frederic Robinson – ‘Particles’
October 18, 2013 | Jack Smith
For an album as universally excellent as Frederic Robinson‘s debut Mixed Signals, it’s surprisingly hassle-free choosing a single track from the bunch as our track of the week and the symbolic centrepiece of the LP itself. ‘Particles’ has been floating around … Read More
FIVE STEPS: Andyskopes
October 10, 2013 | Jack Smith
Andyskopes‘ latest release on UE regulars Utopia Music is a quintessential marriage of Jungle old and new, a beautiful Amen-laden excursion that highlights the continued relevance of the highly influential sound in 2013. We thought it apt to get the … Read More
REVIEW: Rounds – Proof EP [LOODMA]
October 10, 2013 | Jack Smith
So we featured another of Loodma‘s illustrious alumni Kaiori Breathe back in May at the time of his wonderful ‘Kokoro’ EP release, an elegantly realised four-track collection that really confirmed our belief in Loodma’s proficient selection and intriguingly strange musical … Read More
Five Essentials: Oliver Yorke
September 30, 2013 | Jack Smith
Deliciously abstract within the cavernous 170 mould, Oliver Yorke‘s latest single on Italy’s Retrospective Recordings pushes the artist’s name within the same aural sphere as counterparts such as Ruffhouse and Clarity, those who have come to define this sound of … Read More
FIVE ESSENTIALS: Survey
August 17, 2013 | Jack Smith
Traversing the murky depths of minimal 170 with a sound that radiates sparse anger and ominous forebode comes Survey, a Berlin-based duo who have proved their production mettle with only a handful of releases to date on some of the … Read More
DOWNLOAD: Survey – Grid Sheet VIP [Protect Audio]
August 6, 2013 | Jack Smith
To celebrate the forthcoming release of Survey‘s second single on Protect Audio on August 26th, the duo are kindly giving away their seductively brooding ‘Grid Sheet’ VIP next Monday 12th. We’ll be speaking with the boys leading up to the release … Read More
Mix: Commander – All Darkestral Mix
July 27, 2013 | Jack Smith
Being mildly addicted to DNB Forum gives you the opportunity to listen to the many members mixes posted within, a kaleidoscopic underground network of bedroom and live recordings that covers all sub genres of DnB and showcases the unanimous quality … Read More
UE.14: Double Helix
July 22, 2013 | Jack Smith
Following on from his trailblazing new single on Deep Field Audio and his Five Essentials feature that appeared on our site last week, we thought it wise to ask Double Helix to put his essentials into practice and supply us … Read More
REVIEW: Villem & McLeod – ‘Another Star’ / ‘Keeper Of The Sun’
July 18, 2013 | Jack Smith
‘Liquid’ is perhaps DnB’s most recognisable sub-genre upon listening, borrowing elements from the past with its sample-dominated structures and elegant musicality. Yet perhaps this continuous cycle of homage prevents its evolution as a sub-genre; we could argue that liquid is … Read More
FIVE ESSENTIALS: Double Helix
July 14, 2013 | Jack Smith
Having featured this talented Austrian back in April on the eve of his first release on fledgling new label Deep Field Audio, Double Helix returns to the fold with another expertly calculated slice of tech Drum & Bass in the … Read More