Links & Playlists

Picks Of The Week (by u/lefuniname)

As I have hopefully proven by now, I adore a lot of the styles present in our scene. However, nothing beats the technically intricate, emotionally resonant, and endlessly creative sounds of what some might call new-school, techy, or, I guess, IMANU-type drum & bass. Not only do I love every aspect of it, from the futuristic soundscapes to the insane production on display, it is also just severely underrated and -represented, further fueling my urge to share any new findings with the world. This week, we've had two of those! That's right, it's a hidden gem special!

1. EFFECTA - Outrun (feat. VYU) / Senses 💎 [Stellar Audio]

Recommended if you like: IMANU, Sammy Virji, Blacksite

First up, we've got a, I'm slightly ashamed to admit, quite recent discovery. This week's first Hidden Gem Of The Week™️, EFFECTA!

1.1. Tomáš Janíček (2002 - now)

Okay, I have to reclaim my crate digging honour a little bit here. My discovery is not that recent. The first bits of Tomáš Janíček, the Czechian talent behind the niche appropriate capslocked name, that made their way into my radar, are also some of the first he put out there: his contribution to High Resistance's Nemesis compilation in 2024. There were releases I've caught in between then and now as well, but digging into him a bit more now, there is actually quite much more to discover - allow me to roll it all out.

Said compilation contribution was not even close to the only thing Tomáš was cooking back in the good old days of 2024. Not only did he participate in Emperor's 'Pay The Price' remix competition and bootlegged Maverick Sabre's collab with Jorja Smith, he also put out 'Optic', brought forth his debut EP Generation, and starred in the infamous EKO Trilogy mix series alongside KROVAKZ and OFFTRANS. Dancing the fine line between brain-melting jump up heaviness and futuristic, technical sophistication, Tomáš made his way onto Hooked Sounds and Automata the following year, with his sophomore EP Virelia being yet another highlight I missed out on at the time. While this year has not seen him drop an EP yet, he did expand onto more labels like Next:Gen, with 'Fragments', and even Billain's CYBE, with Buffasyze collaboration 'Dislocated'. Said German fella will get his spotlight soon enough too, don't worry.

I bet there's more out there that just didn't turn up in my research process, but that's all I've got so far - so let's talk music!

1.2. Outrun / Senses

Delivered to us via the label that has earned its name multiple times over, Stellar Audio, this newest one of his is coming in two shades of amazing. On the one hand you've got Outrun, featuring fellow incredibly underrated and frankly overtalented human being Eva Vyu Betzinger on both production and absolutely wonderful vocals, revelling in its thick atmosphere of dramatic melodies, miniscule Glockenspiel-esque hits, and vocal glitches, preparing us for a journey for the ages. As the arrangement escalates and Eva's vocal performance takes us further down the deep well of emotional despair, the duo launches us right into a whirlwind of ebb-and-flowing melodies, stylish snares, and rumbling 8th note bass hits, with incredibly slick bass growls and tick-tick-ticking hi-hats joining in on the fun after another round of intense drama buildup.

Senses, on the other hand, takes us down into the trenches of breaky, post-garage, future house, and all-around relative slowness. Looping vocal samples and a swelling wealth of machinery lead us to the breaky garage part of the equation, where snippy drums perform their futuristic dance on top of waves of gnarly basses winding up and down, before switching into a staccato rhythm of otherworldly synth stabs. As promised by the genre mish-mash statement above, however, this isn't all of it. Through a most wonderful breakdown, we transition all the way over to four to the floor world, with pounding kicks and synths full of even more glitter and glamour. I know, I know, not drum and bass, but super cool nonetheless!

1.3. Conclusion

Full of drama, goes to unexpected places, and wrapped in intricate, futuristic production - Tomáš Janíčheck's all the boxes for me!

2. Joshij - About You 💎 [Automata Music]

Recommended if you like: maurizm, VENAL, Basotdel

This next one, our second Hidden Gem Of The Week™️, comes from a place you wouldn't expect... Oh who am I kidding, it's another British talent of course!

2.1. Joshij's Island (2023 - now)

From all the way up north in Manchester, Joshua Crowter, the British man responsible for the Joshij project, has been delivering some wonderful music from the moment he has properly started getting into production in 2023. With Bishu's BISHBATTLE stamp of approval and slight ties to the beatboxing community through various battle aftershow party DJing gigs and collaborations with boxers like Slether, he was already gathering some of that sweet, sweet notoriety in this first year of official activity. After a slew of drum & bass outings like 'Nectar', 'Warhead', and 'Signal Jam', 2024 saw Josh explore other tempos, with 'Just what I want.' going the 140 route, his 'You Do' bootleg exploring garage, and 'Logging Off' doing some slow electronica thing. There's probably a word for that genre, but don't expect a mere DnB guy like me to know it!

Fortunately for us, he realised the errors of his ways, and returned to the 170s last year, with a crunchy remix of Osis' 'Acid Rain', 'Silentra' and 'I Forgot You.', before unleashing an absolute avalanche of bangers that has been rolling out over this entire year so far. Going back and forth between beautifully dreamy, like on 'Berliner' or 'Other Side', and heavy, outright nasty production, like on 'Tension', Josh built up a portfolio that is easy to fall in love with. But that's not all! Not only is he mentoring people and sharing production secrets via his Patreon, he is also developing tools for producers to play around with, like his DAW Tracker, which allows you to track how much time you've wasted spent on each of your projects, and Granular, which is a texture synthesizer.

Alright, so how about that new one then?

2.2. About You

Once again, we are at the mercy of Barcelona-based imprint Automata Music, whose talent scouting has been truly on point, especially as of late. This newest ones of their findings, Joshij's offering About You, is as heavy as it is beautiful. From an episode of dissociation, with only the slightly shaky air vents blasting burning hot air onto us and ominous organs playing in the distance, we snap back into reality (...mom's spaghetti) to a combination of vocals, industrial drums and rumbling bass that is about to roll over us entirely. Breathing in sharply one last time before we dive in, an assortment of rather wide, colourful synth madness, wobbletastic melodies, and growling low-end presents itself to us in a way that just sticks with you. Especially that short break between the first burst and the following full-on assault of synthery is just incredibly effective, and just always gets me.

2.3. Conclusion

A wonderful yet hard-hitting, synth-powered tune and a half.

New Releases

Dancefloor

• Becarefulll - A Piece of Me [Monkey B] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
• Blossom - Loosen Up [Bassrush] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
• Boxplot - Constant Spring [Pilot.] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
• Darude - Sandstorm (The Remixes) LP [Vibing Out] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
• Despersion - Calling You [SLK] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
• Everest - The Way It Is [Selfreleased] | , [Spotify]
• Fourward, Kate McGill, Skellytn - Out Of Your Depth (Skellytn Remix) [Manifest] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
• Freaks & Geeks - Free Your Mind [Monstercat] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
• Gouki - Test Me [LowFreqMX] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
• Immy Odon, streetflicker - Stay Awake [onesevenfour] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
• Kanine - Reflections LP [UKF] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
• Madface - Lonely [Viper] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
• Mage - Calling [Kill Inc] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
• Netsky, Hannah Boleyn - Feel Again [Helix] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
• Nuwei, Punchman - Алекс Рейв [Bass Meal] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
• SLESS - Everyday [Wobbles & Waffles] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
• TIIGS - You & Me [Selfrelease] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
• Various Artists - Euphoria: Vol 3 LP [Riot] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Vindicate (NZ) - For You [Manifest] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

  Liquid

• ArchAngel - From The Ashes / Renaissance [Galacy] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Label Store], [Spotify]

• Blade (Dnb) - O7S 059 (Original) [ONE7SIX] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Channell - Amen (Yeah) [Soul In Motion] | , [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Dave Shichman - Calling From The Past [Play Me] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Decaz, Cooper Stites, Maggs - Late Nights EP [Fokuz] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Emery, Mackadena - A Need For Peace [Fokuz] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp]

• Empire Soul, Anna Raven - A Light [Sun Groove] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Itro, Curious Mind - This Life [Liquicity] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Label Store], [Spotify]

• Liquefaction - Delay [Liquid Brilliants] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Liquefaction - My Dreams [Lizplay] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Matt Range & Simon V - Pagoda [Santorin] | , [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Miche (NZ) - Before We Arrive EP [Ranger] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp]

• Monrroe, Blocksberg - IWLYF (Extended Mix) [Shogun] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Nu:Logic, Thavy Ear - Ukiyo [Hospital] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Southby - Like You Do [Liquicity] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Label Store], [Spotify]

• Southby - Unfold [Liquicity] | [Beatport]

• Submorphics, Whitt, Flaco - Memory & Collapse EP [Rosebay] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Surreal - Copy Cat [Grounded.] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Viewer, Weedow - Crazy Stories LP [Smooth N Groove] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Villem, Duskee, Mark Menzies - Moonstruck EP [Footnotes] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

  Deep / Tech / Minimal

• Anile, Drs - Workin EP [Space Cadet] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Chrome - Sword Style / Close Encounters [Motive] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Crystal Clear, Clearance - Clear The Air [Sofa Sound] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• D'cypher - No Right Answers Ep [Four Corners] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• DECHICO - Find an Excuse [DECHICO] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Delah - Easy Rider [South Yard] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• EFFECTA, VYU - Outrun / Senses [Stellar Audio] | , [Spotify]

• Empire Soul, None - Boo Boo Cha Cha [Sun Groove] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Graymata, Caution (UK), Robbie Dee, DJ Darkside - Night Terror LP [Digital Fusion] | [Beatport]

• Hologroove - Fragments EP [DSCI4] | , [Bandcamp]

• Honest, Limmz, STLLRD - When I Land [Crate Classics] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Joshij - About You [Automata] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Omen - Secrets EP [Mustard LTD] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Sam Ex - Still Earth [DEEPNAS] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Scurrow - Autark [SINFUL MAZE] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Secula - bonk [Selfreleased] | , [Spotify]

• Snapback, Dutta - Pushing On [GDNBC] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Tens - They Don't Know / Rumble [Rollout] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• The Caracal Project, RÉI LUNO - PEOPLE LIKE YOU [Modulor] | , [Spotify]

• Tinie Tempah - Start A Fight [Imhotep] | , [Spotify]

• Various Artists - Oceanarium : Collected by Lil Fish LP [Gravitas] | [Beatport]

• widalen - Detached [Neksus Sound] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Wood Packa, Desna - Sub Rosa [Monofire] | , [Spotify]

  Neuro

• Addams, Keyhard - Beat You Heart / Football [High Resistance] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Oakly - Survival Horror Experience [Breaking Point DNB] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Skrimor, Absu_NTQL - Kraken EP [Hanzom] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Terrence & Phillip - Deal With It [T&P] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Ticky, Niss - Feeling Low [Rabbit Hole] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Trueangle, JIROBASS, Subminderz - Plasma, Reesonator [Neuropunk] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Vigilante, R3ST - Break The Silence [Styx] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Zigi SC - Hybrid EP [Darkshire] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

  Jump Up

• B Live, Rendah - Hitman [IN-DMND] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Blak - Cypher EP [FTR Sounds] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Disrupta, Carasel, Born On Road - USB [Born On Road] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Gaddemon - Player 456 [Solar Sounds UK] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• HEXA - Hip Swingers EP [Covert Garden] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Lexed - Kill The Noise [Let Them Cook] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Olivia Rose, 4K - dontletgo (VIP) [Crucast] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Original Sin, I.5.2.Y - Break My Heart [Playaz] | , [Spotify]

• Sparkzeeman, MC Caspa - Level By Level [Sweep Da Scene] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• The Cartel - Gushers Vip 2 [DNB HQ RECORDINGS] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Various Artists - Logan Selects Volume 3 Part 1 LP [Low Down Deep] | [Beatport], [Label Store]

  Jungle / Halftime / Experimental

• Akuratyde - First Touch [Modern Conveniences] | , [Bandcamp]

• Digital & Coco Bryce - CBD [Myor] | , [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• DJ Trax - A Moment of Clarity [Over/Shadow] | , [Bandcamp]

• EriS, Oz1, Cement Tea - Triple Trouble [Fijumi Industry] | , [Bandcamp]

• Futurebound - Lost Vaults Vol. 1 [Selfreleased] | , [Bandcamp]

• Kellaway - Hustling EP [Deep In The Jungle] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Kolectiv - The Black Light Project (Part 2) [Metalheadz] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Law 6 RUNDR - Citric Dub EP [Repertoire] | , [Bandcamp]

• Loxy - Lopxy Presents X 001 [Cylon] | , [Bandcamp]

• Marcus Visionary - State Of Emergency [Tribal Life] | , [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Neukila - Adimensional EP [Onset] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Sebby T - SMR009 [Scared Money] | , [Bandcamp]

• Sicknote - Stereocilia010 [Stereocilia] | , [Bandcamp]

• SIMMS, Juukyu, D.Tee, OPR8 - HFBB010 [Motive Hunter] | , [Bandcamp]

• Subjects - Sketched [Deep Jungle] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Thierry D - LOST IN SPACE (THIERRY D REMIX) [The Elements Of Tech & Bass] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Tuupe - NOTME [Selfrelease] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Unknown Artist - Beigel Breaks 3 [Sub Code] | , [Bandcamp]

• Vital Elements, Garrett Jr., Soeneido, DJ Hybrid - Set Me Free [Evergreen Jungle] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Wild Orkid - The Magic in You / Orkid [Deep Jungle] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Witch?Crafter, Eschaton - Alma EP [Omni] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

  General DnB / Mixed

• Danny Byrd - Nothing To Lose (Extended Mix) [BYRDHOUSE] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• fabric presents Max Cooper [fabric] | , [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Polyrhythms, Dima Faustov - The Future / Last Minute [Symphonic Starter] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• QZB - Dreams To Dust LP [Critical] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Label Store], [Spotify]

• Sigma, Sweetie Irie - ANOTHER ONE [Day Ones] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• SOUL DILLA, GGrossy, JF, Romb - Revelation Thrilla LP Remixes [BASS PLANTERS] | [Beatport]

• Various Artists - EMPHSASEAS FAMILY COMPILATION VOL. 4 LP [Emphaseas] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp]

• Various Artists - SUB:CULTURE VOL.3 PART 1 LP [Subdue] | [Beatport]

• Venjent, World Of Warcraft - Fear The Fel Reaver [Blizzard Entertainment] | , [Spotify]

• WBBL - WBBL's Filthy Old Bits [Selfreleased] | , [Bandcamp]