banging

Just a little thing I've been playing on the keyboards, so I thought I'd put a beat to it and stick it up here for you guys. Some mellow strings and chords too. (Just for those that may ask, original by Sigur Ros and Chicane also done a wicked mix of this too.)

Brothers/Sisters

Mind Vortex - Now It's Time

Hamilton’s ‘Soundboy’ was one of the stand out tracks featured on Andy C’s ‘Nightlife 5’ compilation, while the VIP version tore apart clubs from London to Lisbon. Meanwhile last year’s ‘Brainstorm’ / ‘Echoes’ set Hamilton apart as one of the hottest producers the drum & bass scene has to offer. It’s no surprise then that this, his latest single for Ram Records, contains an undeniably epic pair of tracks that are filled with all the hallmarks you’d expect from a producer of Hamilton’s calibre. 

‘Deep In My Heart’ leads the way, infused with twinkling melodies, infectious vocal samples and euphoric build ups that will make you fall in love with Hamilton’s music. Romance will be the last thing on your mind though when the warping bassline sucks you into another world. Before long your body will respond to the rolling beats and your heart will direct your feet straight to the dance floor.

Flip over and ‘Rich Kids’ builds on that formula as Hamilton displays ever-more musicality as building, enveloping leads and clattering breaks are offset with rib-snapping bassline combinations and grinding end-bar edits. This one is not for the faint hearted and sees Hamilton putting his money where his mouth is to deliver an unquestionably storming track that goes straight for the jugular. This one is an instant rewind track!

Hamilton

A: Deep In My Heart
AA: Rich Kids

Date:26th March 2012
Cat:	RAMM112


Hamilton - Deep In My Heart

True to their self prophetic genre-less guise of anything and everything between 110-174 bpm, the last 6 months have seen Delta Heavy filling in the gap between their last Ram release and new EP 'Down The Rabbit Hole' with the completion of extensive tours of Australia, USA, Canada & Europe as well as churning out an array of multi genre remixes for Emalkay, Adam F, The Fixers and a speaker destroying remix of Maverick Sabre’s ‘Used To Have It All’. The latter has been hailed with continuous support from nearly every DJ at Radio 1 and has been championed by Annie Mac on her pivotal Friday night show for 5 weeks and counting, while their recent remix of Rita Ora's 'R.I.P' has dominated airwaves and dance floors globally. By most producers schedules, this would seem enough for the first few months of the year, but arguably their most significant move to date came in the form of their rework of Nero’s ‘Must Be The Feeling.’ An infectious 110bpm anthem that was given away by Nero and Delta Heavy for free, it so far has had over 130,000 downloads, over 2 million views on UKFMusic alone and has undoubtedly confirmed Delta Heavy’s place at the top table of bass music.

Following on from their last release was no easy task.  'Overkill / Hold Me' held simultaneous number 1 spots on Trackitdown drum and bass and dubstep charts with 'Hold Me' named by Skream and Benga as one of their 'Drops of 2011'.  The official video for 'Hold Me' has racked up 2.5 million views and to date Delta Heavy are the only artists apart from Knife Party to have had releases on all UKF YouTube channels. 

With their most ambitious project to date Delta Heavy invite you to follow them 'Down The Rabbit Hole' into a place where a myriad of styles, genres and influences are merged into one another and combine effortlessly to create 6 hard-hitting original tracks.

The lead track of the EP 'Get By' throws the listener back to the turn of the century when UK garage ruled the charts.  Pitched up saccharine vocals and bouncy 2 step beats are juxtaposed with a thumping dubstep switch that catapults the dance floor straight back in 2012.  Their own 174 bpm remix sees more 90s nostalgia twisted into their trademark pounding drum and bass as the vocal sits on twinkling rave pianos and a reese bassline that builds to a thundering drop.

'End of Days' sees Delta Heavy in more familiar territory.  A staple of Andy C sets in recent months, a tense and apocalyptic intro rises through grinding alarm stabs and an urgent guitar riff towards an unrelenting wall of searing synths and bass.  In a similar vein 'Turbine' retains the dystopian, mechanical mood whilst combining more traditional jungle ingredients, rugged breakbeats and a ripping hoover lead.  'Make It Rain' keeps the tempo at 174 bpm but flips the genre on its head with a funky, swaggering take on the half time style.

'Demons' picks up from where 'Hold Me' left off, balancing light and shade expertly as a tropical intro of steel drums and imploring vocals cascade into an explosive conclusion.  

Delta Heavy - Turbine

Anyone who’s been paying attention in the last six months will know that Ram Records is having yet another incredible year. A worldwide dance music institution, Andy C and Scott Bourne’s record label has gone from strength to strength, having nurtured a plethora of the bass music scene’s most exciting artists over the last two decades.

One such artist is Culture Shock. A Ram Records star since his debut release in 2006, this incredible producer has collaborated with Sub Focus and Brookes Brothers and remixed Nero’s ‘Guilt’ and Netsky’s brand new single ‘Come Alive’ into veritable drum & bass anthems. Meanwhile his solo productions have turned dance floors across the globe upside down thanks to his powerful productions and inimitable approach to D&B.

Here Culture Shock follows up last year’s ‘Protection’ with another stunning single that’s sure to please fans of his unique style. ‘I Remember’ is progressive dance floor drum & bass at its finest. Gradually building and growing, pulling you in gently and never letting go, this track is the perfect balance of beautiful musicality and effortless, uninhibited energy. Fans of Culture Shock’s sound will be instantly infatuated with this one.

Meanwhile ‘Troglodyte’ demonstrates Culture Shock’s deeper and darker side perfectly. Rolling and bouncing along with a squelching bassline and chopped up vocal snippets this Caveman style skull smasher threatens to bash anything in its path with an immense bassline club, expertly crafted for maximum floor-shaking damage.

Culture Shock

A: I Remember
AA: Troglodyte 

Date: 2nd July 2012
Cat:	RAMM117


Culture Shock - I Remember

Culture Shock - Troglodyte

As the world is left reeling from the stinging blows that were Loadstar’s incredible giveaway single ‘Second Skin’ / ‘Terrordrone’ it’s clear that the Bristol-based duo are pulling no punches with their next immense release on Ram Records. Thoroughly road-tested and perpetually demolishing, both of these tracks have been battered in Loadstar’s DJ sets across the globe and fans have been eagerly awaiting their release for months.

‘Passenger’ opens gently, with a euphoric and emotive intro, taking you by the hand and walking you gently to the drop. By the time the half-time drumstep beats and screeching synth lines have hit you, you won’t even realise what’s happened. This is no back seat driver as Loadstar put the pedal to the metal and set the dance floor alight with their own brand of infectious drum & bass energy.

Next up ‘Bomber’ suits up ready for war, packing more punch than a bunker buster and threatening to level whole city blocks whenever it’s dropped. Another tried and tested Loadstar favourite, this one is a sure-fire club killer thanks to its grinding, winding bassline and Loadstar’s trademark heavyweight beats.

Rounding off the release Inspected Records’ rising bass music star Culprate turns in a distinctly dirty dubstep version of ‘Passenger.’ Retaining the original’s effortless musicality and squeezing in enough bass to knock a car off the road, this remix should make sure any fan of 140bpm tunes is paying attention. 

Loadstar

Vinyl			

A: Passenger	
AA: Bomber	

Digital

Track 1: Passenger
Track 2: Passenger (Radio Edit)
Track 3: Bomber
Track 4: Passenger (Culprate Remix)

Date: 9th July 2012
Cat:	RAMM118


Loadstar - Passenger (Deluxe Track) #FuturePerfect

Hurtling towards the release of their sophomore album ‘All Or Nothing’, Calyx & TeeBee display their versatility on this, their new single. Having proven their worth with a decade and a half of success, the duo take their unique sound and apply it to two haunting tracks that are sure to get fans of expertly crafted D&B excited for the forthcoming long player.

Leading the way is ‘Elevate This Sound’ a beautifully constructed piece of music that underpins a fully structured song complete with one of the finest vocals to ever grace a drum & bass record. Skipping beats are underpinned with layers of Rhodes organs, subtly effected emotions and a moving bassline which ensures this track will be as at home on dance floors worldwide as it is on your mp3 player.

Flip over and Calyx & TeeBee offer up a track that bears their signature hallmarks infused with a fresh feel. ‘Hurting’ is packed with the kinds of twists, turns and downright gut-wrenching basslines you’ve come to expect from this duo. Stepping drums and grinding bass notes are interspersed with haunting vocal snippets and plenty of the signature sound that will keep the drum & bass elite happy.

Calyx & TeeBee - Elevate This Sound / Hurting

Vinyl Tracks	
A. Elevate This Sound	
AA. Hurting

Digital Bundle 
1. Elevate This Sound (Original Mix) 
2. Elevate This Sound (Radio Edit) 
3. Hurting (Original Mix) 
4. Elevate This Sound (Instrumental) 
5. Hurting (Instrumental)

Date: 13th August 2012 
Cat:	RAMM120

Calyx & TeeBee - Elevate This Sound

New mix to celebrate the glorious summer we are having here in the UK !
Featuring brand new tunes from me, Audio, Gridlok, The Upbeats and more. Enjoy !

You can download the mix here http://www.facebook.com/edrushofficial/app_190322544333196


Track list.

1. Ed Rush - Forever (Piranha Pool)
2. Audio & Ed Rush - Raid (Piranha Pool)
3. Audio - Point of No Return (Virus)
4. Noisia & Upbeats - Dustup (Vision)
5. Distant Future & Makros  -  Obscure (Piranha Pool)
6. Optiv - Krakpot (Jade Remix) (Close 2 Death)
7.  Audio - Headroom (Virus) 
    (Prolix & MC Coppa - Interlace Tease)
8.  Optiv & BTK - Payback (Virus)
9. Camo & Krooked - Menace (Mefjus Remix) (Hospital)
10. Upbeats - Untitled Disco (Vision)
11. Ed Rush - Brain Broker (Piranha Pool)
12. Audio & Insideinfo - Vein Drain (Virus)
13. Audio - Soulmagnet (Virus)
14. Noisia - Diplodocus (The Upbeats Remix) (Mau5trap)
15. Jade feat Ryme Tyme - Smashface (Eatbrain)
16. Distant Future - Disposal (Piranha Pool)
17. Distant Future & Trespasser - Mist it (Piranha Pool)
18. NC17 - Slug Path (The Upbeats Remix) [Grindhou5e Audio]
19. Gridlok & Optiv - Time Goes By (P51)
20. Ed Rush - Seven Suns (Piranha Pool)
21. Noisia - Containment (Vision)
22. Insideifo feat Girl X - Real World (Virus VIP) (Viper)
23. Ed Rush - Ease The Pain (Dub)
24. Optiv & BTK - No Way Out (Virus)
25. Mortem - Revolta (Demand)
26. Mortem - Iceberg (Metalheadz)
27. Enei - Movin Fast (June Miller Remix)(Critical)
28. Fourward - Steady State (Audioporn)

Ed Rush - Summer 2012 Mix Final

As everyone who’s been paying attention recently will know, Program is the brand new label from Andy C and Scott Bourne’s Ram Records. Having reached an incredible 20 years in the game, Ram have opened their doors to fresh styles and an exciting roster of talent for Program’s release schedule. Kicked off with Frankee’s debut solo single, this new project looks set to become a staple diet of drum & bass DJs across the globe.

Following on from Frankee’s single come one of the scene’s most well known and loved production collectives. Having racked up releases on the biggest and brightest drum & bass labels, it makes perfect sense to add them to Program’s roster, and Wickaman, Hoodlum, Mavrik & RV do not disappoint as they bring with them two outstanding tracks packed with musical promise.

First up ‘One Scratch’ takes you on an epic journey filled with beautiful, wide open soundscapes. Yearning vocals and long, drawn out pads pull you gently in as progressive melodies build and grow towards the drop. A drop that works effortlessly against the stunning backdrop already painted by Wickaman, Hoodlum & Mavrik, underpinning the whole track with a warm bassline and plenty of low sub-bass. This one will undoubtedly have clubbers losing themselves on the dance floor whenever it is dropped.

Then Wickaman & RV take to the studio for another incredible piece of drum & bass music in the form of ‘Sound Clash’. Gentle beats and subtle percussion get things going as the duo head down another epic path. Soon you’re enveloped with rolling hi-passed amen breaks and bouncing bass notes all topped off with expertly placed vocal samples which culminate in a track which will sound incredible on a huge sound system and just as good on your mp3 player. 

Wickaman, Hoodlum, Mavrik & RV

A - Wickaman, Hoodlum, Mavrik - One Scratch
AA - Wickaman & RV - Sound Clash

Date: 17th September 2012
Cat:	PRGRAM002


Wickaman, Hoodlum & Mavrik - One Scratch

The Rat Pack - Searching For My Rizla (Micro Prophet remix)

The first two singles taken from Calyx & TeeBee’s forthcoming album ‘All Or Nothing’ have been heavily supported by tastemakers across the board. Lining up to drop them are Radio 1 DJs Zane Lowe and Annie Mac,  UK #1 artists DJ Fresh and Rudimental, Example’s touring partner DJ Wire and scene stalwarts TC and Matrix & Futurebound, to name but a few. And now the duo is ready to unleash the third single from ‘All Or Nothing’, an incredible slice of D&B funk featuring the vocal talents of Kemo.

Marrying influences from hip hop, funk and mid-‘90s drum & bass, Calyx & TeeBee offer up a distinctly different track that tugs on feelings of nostalgia while pushing the envelope forward. ‘Pure Gold’ is effortlessly fresh, oozing with bouncing hip hop, double bass funk and D&B energy this track will undoubtedly sound great from the car to the club, across radio waves and dance floors alike.

Wilkinson steps up for the first remix of the package, keeping the orchestral provenance suggested by the intro of the original and rolling it out into a booming, winding bass monster. This is drumstep at its finest, resisting the urge to throw in a million random bleeps, Wilkinson instead infuses ‘Pure Gold’ with his own unique style and creates an absolute killer of a remix in the process.

Next up Hostage takes ‘Pure Gold’ into serious bouncing house territory. As the punchy drums are punctuated by that infamous horn sample you’re pulled slowly and gently in. Before long Hostage places precision cuts of Kemo’s vocal and the infectious bass loop into the mix along with some carnival snares that ensure this is one of the most infectious 4/4 tracks you’re likely to hear all year.

Rounding the digital package off Calyx & TeeBee offer up their own track ‘Perspectives’, a sure-fire slice of D&B that’s sure to keep the heads happy. Relentless bass and expertly chosen sound FX all combine with rolling percussion and stunning production to create a perfect dance floor roller.

Calyx & TeeBee

Vinyl
A. Pure Gold ft Kemo
AA. Perspectives

Digital
1. Pure Gold ft Kemo (Original Mix)
2. Pure Gold ft Kemo (Radio Edit)
3. Pure Gold ft Kemo (Wilkinson Remix)
4. Pure Gold ft Kemo (Hostage Remix)
5. Perspectives (Original Mix)

Release: 29th October 2012
Cat no: RAMM124

Calyx & TeeBee - ft Kemo Pure Gold (Friction BBC R1 - Exclusive 1st Play)

Two decades deep and things just keep getting better… New artists have joined the family, we’ve established a brand new label and released a plethora of anthems which come with the Ram seal of approval. A year like this needs a little reflection, time to look back before we hit 2013 just as hard! And we’ve got it right here; a compendium of our proudest audio moments this year. Oh, and we’ve thrown in a cheeky exclusive for good measure…

Stretching from January right through to the future, Ram Records Drum & Bass Annual 2012 fizzes with bass memories: Mind Vortex’s ‘Hot Box’ takes us back to one of the coldest winters on record, Hamilton’s ‘Rich Kids’ reminds us of a promising spring. Culture Shock’s ‘I Remember’ gave us sunshine in the rainiest summer ever and Calyx & TeeBee’s ‘Pure Gold’ snapped us back full circle. Cyantific’s exclusive ‘Infinity Plus 1’, meanwhile, is the promise of plenty more exciting material to come. And that’s just five of the 25 tracks on offer. Complete with select cuts taken from our new label Program, and a bonus Mind Vortex mix, this concludes a great year of music from us at Ram.


1. Calyx & TeeBee - Pure Gold ft. Kemo
2. Wilkinson - Need To Know ft. Iman 
3. Culture Shock - I Remember 
4. Calyx & TeeBee - Elevate This Sound 
5. Cyantific - Infinity Plus 1 
6. Loadstar - Passenger 
7. Culture Shock - Troglodyte 
8. Wickaman, Hoodlum & Mavrik - One Scratch 
9. Mind Vortex - Now It's Time 
10. Loadstar - Bomber 
11. Rene LaVice - All My Trials ft. Ivy Mairi 
12. Hamilton - Deep In My Heart 
13. DC Breaks - Move Closer ft. Belle Humble 
14. Wilkinson - Automatic 
15. Delta Heavy - End Of Days 
16. Chroma - So Alone 
17. Rene LaVice - Absolute Monster 
18. Delta Heavy - Turbine 
19. Frankee - Pandorum 
20. Mind Vortex - Hotbox 
21. Kove - Iodine 
22. DC Breaks - Firez 
23. LoKo - Bassline Secret 
24. Hamilton - Rich Kids 
25. June Miller - 64 Thousand Dollar Habit ft. The Secret Handshake Club 
26. Ram Drum & Bass Annual Mixed By Mind Vortex

Release: 10.12.2012
Cat no: RAMMLPD4
Available Now

Cyantific - Infinity Plus 1

out now -

iTunes - http://smarturl.it/Insidious 
Ram Shop - http://smarturl.it/zl7q30 
Drum&Bass Arena - http://smarturl.it/x83ul6 
Trackitdown - http://smarturl.it/d7h0pi

Insidious: Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects. 
So the dictionary tells us, but if the word insidious bears any relation to Rene LaVice’s rise to drum & bass prominence it’s that it is the exact opposite. Smashing his way to the top of the game within a year with nothing but a hugely positive effect, Rene LaVice is poised to unleash his debut album following just a handful of releases.

It would be foolish to think that Rene LaVice and his music weren’t ready for such a bold step, though. Last year saw his tunes find a home on the playlists of tastemakers such as Annie Mac, Nick Grimshaw and MistaJam, become highlights in the sets of Ram boss Andy C amongst many of his D&B peers, top the sales charts amidst fierce competition from all manner of bass music and storm into Mixmag’s top 50 tracks of the year.

How exactly, you may ask, has a relatively new artist from Canada managed to achieve all of this in 2012? Your first listen to his debut album ‘Insidious’ will undoubtedly answer that.

From the opening bars of ‘So Inspired To Fail’ to the closing notes of ‘Absolute Monster’ this LP is really a lesson in creating beautifully crafted drum & bass. ‘Perfect World’ and ‘This Is Conflict’ are prime examples of Rene’s ability to put together tracks that will undoubtedly smash dancefloors.

Throughout ‘Insidious’ has nothing but breezy production and genuine soul to offer the listener. ‘The Way You Love Me’ draws you in with subtle vocal hooks and chest-warming Reeses, ‘Rude Selection’ sees Rene drop the tempo and team up with Trinity Chris for a crunching, grinding slice of hip hop heavy bass music, while the album’s title track is a dizzying blend of sultry vocals and Prototype Years style drum & bass. 
Drawing together classic sounds and giving them a fresh lease of life is Rene LaVice’s mainstay, crafting drum & bass that manages to feel nostalgic, infused with timeless, classic intent, but always up to date with fresh production values. Rene LaVice is a producer who wears his influences on his musical sleeve and always brings them together in a new and exciting way, and his debut album is a testament to that incredible talent.

iTunes

RAMMLP16 - Rene LaVice - Insidious LP - Mix

Hardcore Heaven Remix by Lipmaster Mark (Rat Pack) & Modified Motion

Mind Vortex - Alive / Arc / Arc VIP - out now - http://smarturl.it/MV-Alive 

buy via - 
iTunes - http://smarturl.it/MV-Alive 
Beatport - http://smarturl.it/7os8r7
Trackitdown - http://smarturl.it/8sri79
Drum&Bass Arena - http://smarturl.it/optxxr

MIND VORTEX 
- Alive / Arc

Mind Vortex are back! And they’re back with a vengeance… This duo have pulled it out the bag again and are ready to dent 2013.

Their new release ‘Alive/Arc’ is a game of two wholly different sides. Mind Vortex showcase their enviable range of skills: perfectly executed song-based composition AND outrageously huge, speaker splintering bass bombs.

‘Alive’ is up first. Striking up with a star-glazed synth and string hook that rises exponentially, we’re soon dropped into crisp guitar hooks and smooth vocals. As the synths and heated kicks re-join the mix, it’s instant anthem time with plenty of opportunities to raise a lighter or two. As the vibrant hook gets heavier and the song develops, we find the bass becoming more textured, bursting with dynamics and true sense of sonic sentiment.

Next up, ‘Arc’: A quintessential rave hustler, it opens with rich warm rush-worthy chords softly coerced you into a false sense of arm waving euphoria. This tune has such a beautiful emotion-caked intro and then BANG!: in they come with one of the most powerful pay-offs we’ve heard for ages. A murder of basslines vie for your attention; ducking and diving and weaving and bobbing among each other, each one as brutish as the next. From spine-melting electro-soul to turbo-charged bass shock-out at the flip of a switch, it’s production techniques like this that attracted Mind Vortex to us in the first place.

This release has two stunningly different vibes from one of the most exciting partnerships in drum & bass… With support from the likes of Andy C, Mistajam, Grooverider, Bailey, Crissy Criss, DJ Hype and Drumsound, the doors to the Mind Vortex fan club are well and truly open. And everyone’s invited!

Mind Vortex
1: Alive (Original Mix) 
2: Alive (Radio Edit) 
3: Arc (Original Mix)
4: Arc VIP

Cat: RAMM129

banging

Stuart chippy Thompson