OUT NOW: https://fanlink.to/Levela-Jacked-EP

Levela returns to Critical with the “Jacked” EP, a diverse set that combines technique, depth and dance floor sensibilities. More than accomplished, quality through and through.

Levela online:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djlevela/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DJLevela
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/djlevela
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/levela/
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2CDG8Na
Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/levela/304598424

Jacked EP

Terror

Buy / Stream

Levela - Terror

Buy / Stream > https://fanlink.to/BinaryVol23_Cauzer 

Critical is proud to welcome Cauzer to the label fold.
Her debut EP for the label is 3 tracks of true underground sonics : rolling, deep and deadly.

Cauzer online:
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/cauzerdnb
Twitter → https://twitter.com/cauzeruk
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/cauzeruk/
Soundcloud → https://soundcloud.com/cauzerdnb
Spotify → https://spoti.fi/2UtaTRn

Critical Presents: Binary Vol.23

Modulate

Cauzer - Modulate

Buy on iTunes: http://www.smarturl.it/BETA044

Stately, sun-spattered, soulful and subtle: There’s a particular type of D&B track that fits the summer like a pair of Ray Bans. 

Something that works perfectly at festivals. Something that the house lovers will resonate with. Something to cruise to all your party destinations to. 

Every summer has a small selection of releases that fit that successfully fit that bill… And we have two, courtesy of emerging UK talent Virtue. 

With previous outings on E-Motion and Influenza - plus a major co-lab with fellow Gloucester D&B champ Callide and heavy championship by John B both live and in his weekly podcasts - Virtue has set a solid foundation for a long-lasting career in beats… And he’s taking it next level right here. 

We kick off with ‘Blow My Mind’. Opening with a misty, filtered key refrain, it grabs attention instantly. Soaked in emotion-laden chords, each new element adds more majestic texture before an arresting vocal surges into the mix and leads into one of the most crisp drops we’ve heard in a long time. Nodding referentially to the mid-to-late noughties golden era, there’s a loose, breathy lushness to the fusion, allowing each element to sit comfortably and naturally in the mix. Meltdown guaranteed. 

‘Think Of You’ follows. Igniting with a slightly harder edge, a hooky synth line takes the lead before windy pads, dynamic breakbeats and a well-executed vocal loop fire up the groove. Before we know it we’re deep into that purring, rolling summer bass sound, swimming in a sea of blissed out sonics that manage to sooth and slap in equal measure. Complete with a dramatic half tempo breakdown which strips the tracks back to its bare elements before rebuilding again, it’s yet another surefire case for a sweet summer showdown. 
*Seasonal timing couldn’t be better; Virtue has nailed two creations that will blast right through the sunny sessions and keep us warm in the months that follow. With a wealth of future material ready to unleash, this hardworking, talented newcomer is only just coming to the fore. And right now he’s doing it on Beta. Bring on the summer!


Buy on iTunes

Virtue - Blow My Mind (Clip)

Hospital Shop: hospi.tl/8backtobasics2
iTunes: hospi.tl/25backtobasics2

www.spydnb.com
www.facebook.com/thespymusic
twitter.com/spydnb
instagram.com/spyderdnb
play.spotify.com/artist/6aJAd8zM1s3Slw64KfsmaF

Back To Basics Chapter Two

Baconhead

Heavy Metal

Release date: 27/10/2023
Cop it here: 

Artist: Skulder & Mully
@skulderandmully

Label: Off-License Records
@offlicenserecords

Skulder & Mully - Terran Raider [Premiere]

Playing Games EP

Bandcamp

Stimpy - Discoteka

Black Onyx

Codename: RCRDS welcomes another newcomer to the label, and a first from South America, with the unique tech-funk drum and bass pressure of Brazil's ErBass.

EP opener 'Focus' demonstrates exactly this with a driven head-down dancefloor stomper, before the wobbler of a title track 'Pressure' keeps things bubbling along nicely. Minimal tech roller 'Amos Seven' keeps the grooves in play before 'Road To Emaus' makes full use of the space around its tightly knitted drum work, before label favourite TRC2 offers up a dark edged rework of 'Focus' with another stunning trademark take on modern techstep from this impressively talented artist.

Links:
codenamercrds.bandcamp.com/album/pressure-ep
https://cygnusmusic.link/82y68xb

Buy Now

ErBass - Amos Seven

Buy 'Still Drowning' - http://bit.ly/DISDUB014BC

Phase and Grey Code team up on 'Still Drowning' on Dispatch Recordings, featuring the signature vocals of DRS.

↪ https://soundcloud.com/phasednb
https://www.facebook.com/phasednb

↪ https://soundcloud.com/grey-code
https://www.facebook.com/greycodednb

↪ https://soundcloud.com/anttc1
https://www.facebook.com/DispatchRecordings

Phase, Grey Code & DRS - Still Drowning

Lowriderz are back at it with another smasher of an EP and if you thought their previous ‘Jungle Wars’ EP from 2018 was good, then open your ears and get ready to one foot skank all over again. Released everywhere on 12th June, this collection of beats is nothing short of a welcome return to the world of Serial Killaz.

‘Back’ is one dangerous lead to this EP that would no doubt take anything in its path and give it a good bashing. You know the vocal sample already and wrapping this around a single sine wave is the perfect complement alongside the regular breakbeat switches. 

Distant Future and Steppa Style link up for the ride on ‘Dub Stye’ and ‘No Shop Talk’ respectively. Both feature heavy ‘96 influences with pitch bent basslines, tons of vocal shots and bubbling beats that will have you sticking flyers from the past all over your bedroom, flicking up a lighter and trying to invent a time machine.

‘Dubplate’ and ‘Stop’ could have been a double A side release and their stark variations compliment each other perfectly. On one hand you have a tough roller with a singalong style riff. The flip, more of a flexed out riddim, however, both contain that all important Serial Killaz element. Original roots and foundation.

The flavour for 2020 is without a doubt full circle from the mid 90’s and if Lowriderz have anything to do with it, long may it continue.

Artists: Lowriderz
Release Date: 12th June 2020
Label: Serial Killaz
Press Release: Dubplate Creative

Back to Business EP

Dub Horn

Lowriderz & Distant Future - Dub Horn

DARKMTTR Records | Bookings: ESP Agency
T: +44 20 8740 0533 
http://esp-agency.co.uk/artist/spy

Moving to London from São Paulo eleven years ago, S.P.Y was quick to establish himself within the UK drum+bass scene. After six months of working with only basic equipment, S.P.Y’s natural talent for production saw his first ever release signed to Metalheadz in 2005, with a release on Hospital’s Medschool imprint soon following in 2006.  S.P.Y began collaborating with artists such as Marcus Intalex, Total Science, Kasra and DJ Marky. In 2009 S.P.Y released his first solo EP on Marcus Intalex’s label Soul:R and had releases on many other labels including Digital Soundboy and Innerground. 

The following years were immensely successful for S.P.Y, with Friction including five S.P.Y tracks on his MoS compilation and Andy C featuring four tracks on ‘Nightlife’. Proving his production quality and consistency in 2010 / 2011, S.P.Y delivered standout releases on Ram, Metalheadz, Critical, Shogun and Spearhead – Most notably the anthemic ‘By Your Side’. S.P.Y also took on high-profile remixes for the likes of Deadmau5, Claude von Stroke, LTJ Bukem, Chase & Status, Delilah and Zinc ft. Miss Dynamite, with S.P.Y’s own personal re-lick of Zero 7’s ‘In The Waiting Line’ becoming a signature in his live sets.

Signing to Hospital in 2012, his debut LP, ‘What The Future Holds’ was released to critical acclaim. The LP not only received significant support from fellow artists and topped online sales charts, but was also awarded the coveted ‘Best Album’ at the annual 2012 Drum & Bass Arena awards. S.P.Y backed up this release with a relentless tour schedule of Australia, the United States, Canada, Russia, Asia, New Zealand and Europe. 

S.P.Y’s skills behind the decks rival his studio talents and he delights fans with an educated blend of old school classics and fresh new beats. Always one to stay true to his roots, S.P.Y has a unique ability to bring his trademark underground sound to a worldwide audience. Alternating between beautiful, orchestral, musical sets and dark, rolling mixes, S.P.Y captures the emotions of the crowd. Whether he is playing at a high-profile festival or an intimate club show, S.P.Y always delivers.

In 2013 S.P.Y was again busy touring the world, playing at major festivals such as Tomorrowland, Global Gathering and Electric Daisy Carnival. He delivered successful remixes of James Zabiela’s ‘Perseverance’, Chris Malinchak’s ‘So Good To Me’ and Five Knives’s ‘All Fall Down’ on Red Bull Records. In addition to these achievements, S.P.Y was also selected to write, in collaboration with London Elektricity and Diane Charlemagne, the theme song for the 2014 Street Child World Cup. The track ‘I Am Somebody’ has helped to generate awareness and bring a new interest to Street Child World Cup, advocating for street children’s rights worldwide.

Moving into 2014 and S.P.Y is taking us ‘Back to Basics’ with his second LP. Released in two parts over the coming months, ‘Back to Basics’ draws inspiration from the deeper, darker sounds of drum+bass, and features collaborations with Total Science, Rene La Vice, and vocalists Diane Charlemagne, Grimm and DRS MC.

If any D+B artist can truly claim to be the “producers producer” then Carlos S.P.Y surely has a good case. If the comments on this album by his luminaries are anything to go by: "One of my fave producers" says DJ Hype, "Carlos back to his filthy best!" say Total Science, "There's only one S.P.Y” says Doc Scott.