When we talk about contemporary jungle and hardcore, it's likely Coco Bryce's name will pop up. Yes, he might be a fresher name on the scene but the Breda-based producer, real name Yoël Bego, first cut his teeth over two decades ago around his home town in the Southern area of The Netherlands.

After buying his first pair of turntables back in '95 and learning to mix, he began playing Breakbeat and gabber parties before turning his attention to production in the late 90s.

His debut vinyl release came out in the millennium but it wasn't until around 2009 that he put his foot on the gas and started churning out stellar release after stellar release. Now boasting over 100 albums and EPs in his discography, Coco Bryce shows absolutely no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

His releases have come via the likes Lobster Theremin, Critical Music, Rupture and Fresh 86, to name but a few, as well as his growing empire of labels, MYOR, MYOR Massiv, Faces Of Bass, Ill Behaviour and Diamond Life.

Next up he's joining forces with Breaka for a split EP on TWLVZ, the sister label of Dr Dubplate's ec2a imprint, which will land on 23rd September. In celebration of the release, titled Want U, we got Yoël on board for our flagship mix series. Featuring a ton off his own music, including a few unreleased nuggets, and tracks from friends and contemporaries, the mix is pacey and high-octane but laced with dreamy, melodic atmospheres from start to finish...

Coco Bryce: The 'Ransom Note' Mix

Representing real drum and bass at it’s finest, Mantra’s deep and emotive sound in the mix comes from an intense passion for the music. Together with Double O, she established Rupture as one of the most respected events & labels in the UK. Enjoy!

ITPS093 MANTRA

We are finally walking out of the gloom and doom of January with Spring firmly in view. To give us that extra jolt and wipe off them cobwebs we have reached out to drum & bass and jungle master Tim Reaper to put a shock to our system.
Tim is without doubt one of the striving forces in pushing a new wave of drum & bass and jungle in London and beyond. Alongside other names like Sully, Kloke, Stones Taro and Coco Bryce, Tim has brought a old school sound to an entirely new generation - sounds similar to alumni like Source Direct & Commix but with a new twist. With closing out 2024 with his new album "In Full Effect" with Australian producer Kloke on Hyperdub to much critical acclaim, the name Tim Reaper has never been bigger! So with that being said we are very honoured to have him join us for our series. For Tim's mix he takes us on an hour and half deep dive that he describes as the more chilled side to D&B and Jungle - but don't be fooled this mix definitely has a bit of power behind it. We had a brief chat with Tim about the mix and what hes gotta coming up this year.

Phonica Mix Series 128: Tim Reaper

Here is the recording of my most recent DNB60 mix for Radio 1's D&B show with Charlie Tee, which originally aired late November 2024. In here is a mix of smooth and soulful, deep, dark, and weighty flavours, a little bit of this and a little bit of that in my usual style. At the time most, if not all, of the music was unreleased but a bunch have come out since then so including the tracklist with time stamps below for anyone wanting to support the artists played >>

HLZ - Untitled [Unreleased] _00:00
NFM - Pickle Factory [V Recordings] _03:25
Voltage, Strategy & Specialist Moss - Tell Dem [DNB Allstars] _05:40
Kublai - Certified [The North Quarter] _07:33
Quartz - W.Y.N [play:musik] _09:43
Blade - Can’t Stop [Unreleased] _11:51
Singr - Polo [Soul in Motion] _14:08
Nectax - Soundboy Gambit [Unreleased] _16:37
Mantra - Benda Brendas [Unreleased] _19:18
ASC - S100 [Samurai Music] _22:00
AMIT - Woh Din [31 Records] _24:17
Sweetpea - Rapture (Outrage Remix) [Unreleased] _26:32
Pugilist & Tamen - Conquer [Samurai Music] _28:48
Krust - One Stop Mr Driver (Tim Reaper) [V x Future Retro London] _30:40
DJ Crystl - Warpdrive (Benny L Remix) [Crystl Self Release] _32:00
Galvatron - Get Up [Over/Shadow] _34:27
Nectax - Always You [Unreleased] _36:33
Kuttin Edge - Untitled [play:musik] _39:02
Anushka - Overwhelmed (DJ Die Remix) [Unreleased] _41:41
Xeonz - Your Life [The North Quarter] _44:19
Kuttin Edge - Untitled [play:musik] _47:54
Quartz - Trauma Response [play:musik] _50:43
ShyFX & Maverick Sabre - Risk It All [Digital Soundboy] _53:40
Rush2theUnknown - Rediscovered (Salute to the Shogun) [Unreleased] _56:21

[Recorded 21st November 2024]

*edit: the Quartz tracks are out soon - pre-order from play:musik bandcamp and get Trauma Response right away https://playmusik.bandcamp.com/music*

BBC Radio 1 Drum & Bass Show - Flight DNB60 [11.24]

UK underground veteran Tasha took to the stage at Coalesce '24 as part of the Marcus Intalex Music Foundation, and wow did she deliver.

Stepping up to the decks with a big bag of Jungle and early DnB vinyl, she proceeded to deliver an hour of expertly curated amen breaks and deep 808 subs. If old-school jungle breaks are your thing, this set is absolutely essential!

We are extremely excited to be partnering with the Marcus Intalex Music Foundation again at Coalesce in 2025, and we can't wait to hear what Tasha brings for all of us again this year.

Tasha - Coalesce Mix Series 007

#dnb #atmospheric dnb #tears #max payne rmx

tears

listen

Joviee, Fyere - Voices (Outro)

Full Moon - Tim Reaper & Gremlinz X Eki Labanye Purno Pran - Nandita Yasmin

w/ Blackeye MC , Recorded live at Work Bar, London Nov 2018.

Live at DJ MAG Bunker #26 - AKO Beatz

In the last couple of years, London's SHERELLE (@iamsherelle)has torn through the dance music world like a tornado. Everything she does is high speed and high impact, from what she mixes to the way she mixes it. Her dizzying mix of footwork, jungle and drum & bass has breathed new life into the 160bpm scene and got people all over Europe in a spin. As well as solo work, she plays as part of the 6 Figure Gang and runs the Hooversound Recordings label with Naina while also championing all things leftfield on her BBC Radio 1 residency. 

Of course, her 80 minute mix for us is pure fire, a bumping ride through thrilling kick patterns, shimmering toms and drilling bass. It's underpinned with a constant sense of tension that keeps you utterly on the edge of your seat and variously explodes into life, or pulls back to a moment of unsettling calm. It tells the story of a rich history of UK music, but with a fresh perspective that makes it all the more vital.

Dekmantel Podcast

Dekmantel Podcast 285 - SHERELLE

Mantra went in the mix with some of her favorite hardcore and jungle records. Just over 2 hours of 91-93 goodness. Also available to watch on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW9sokV6fF4&feature=youtu.be

Mantra - Oldksool Hardcore & Jungle Vinyl Set

Ransom Note is an online music, arts and culture magazine. We provide a home for readers and writers with boundless enthusiasm, esoteric knowledge, fierce opinions and impeccable taste.

With our core team immersed in all aspects of dance music, we publish news, articles, and interviews covering the greatest in innovative, underground culture from across the globe. We offer regular, exclusive music and mixtapes from our favourite artists, and publish features shining a light on everything from the freshest new artists to the untold tales from rave history.

Alongside this we offer musings on film, books, life, and art, generating some context and controversy as an antidote to the reheated PR that clogs up the internet. Our office is fuelled by Tunnock’s Bars, cat memes, hangovers and a ridiculous, never ending love for our culture.

We're always interested in getting new writers on board – feel free to get in touch if you’ve got a story to tell.

With love until the grave.