Bios returns to the record stores this month with a brand new compilation LP featuring productions from a whole host of names old and new. Standout tracks on there have to be Survey’s Chatter. They’ve been making some big waves since they first appeared on Protect Audio earlier in the year. Random Movement’s track All Wrong is another standout from the selection. It’s definitely a mixed bag, though. With something for everyone.

Dabs is a name, which has been cropping up more and more in the drum and bass scene in the last year or so. He’s had releases out on Dispatch, M-Atome and a fair few other releases. I’d say he’s certainly one to put on your to watch list. His label isn’t half bad either. Avantgarde Recordings’ third release drops next week with a Dabs remix of an Eastcolours track and a VIP rework of Quadrant and Iris’ track Sparse.

France isn’t the first country that comes to mind when thinking about drum and bass, but with people like IM:LTD and Kantyze putting in the hours to raise the profile of French drum and bass perhaps it should be. Kantyze have gathered up four tracks from their recent studio sessions to form the latest release on their own imprint M-Atome.  The Fish Eye EP features sounds that, according to the pair, were just what they wanted to make.  The duo made their name producing music more at home under the banner of Neurofunk, but this EP shows that they have a tad more versatility than that up their sleeves.  Factory Slum and the EP’s title track Fish Eye are both quite aggressive on the ear and nestle nicely in-between the slightly more at ease Marauder and Dren. All four productions are not to be messed with on the danceefloor, however.

The Texas based drum and bass powerhouse that is Warm Communications is back again this month.  Mako and Villem team up for the A-side to produce a heavyweight A. Side filled with boiling synth sounds, and for the flip, my personal favourite, I Used To Be Like You from Mako on his own. Some nice flavours to be had on this release.

Master beat-crafter and MC, Chuck Inglish, kicks off summer with a free EP to provide a soundtrack for the whip. The Cool Kids rapper has released a few instrumental tapes since the last time he stepped to the mic, and Droptops certainly holds its own in the beat category. Fortunately for fans of the Cool Kids duo, Inglish also laces the tracks with his smooth cadence and unique voice. While his partner in crime Sir Michael Rocks usually gets most of the shine for his solo work, this EP serves as a great reminder of Inglish’s versatility not only as a producer but as a rhymer. The “Back Up (Remix)” featuring Travi$ Scott (above) along with the Asher Roth assisted “For The Love” are the two biggest stand-out tracks from the offering. Chuck also enlists Da$h, Retch and Buddy among others, to provide guest verses for the project. The only real downfall to Droptops is the EP’s length. Being that it is only nine songs, the listener is left wanting more when the last track comes to a close. This is both a critique and a testament to the quality of the tracks.

With new albums coming in June from Fabolous, Yeezy,  Mac Miller and J. Cole, Chuck’s EP will more than likely slide under the radar for many. True fans of hip-hop, however, should add Chuck’s latest offering to the tape deck. His clean sound and crisp beats set the perfect tone for a hip-hop filled summer.

@MusicGood

Mako’s Bristol based imprint, Utopia Music, has gone for an all Ukranian line up on the latest single. Sunchase’s ambient masterpiece Nathennia has been getting some play in the clubs and on the air and Detail’s thumping Green Rain adds a nice contrast to the Sunchase side.

CIA Recordings have been in the game for a long time now and they’re rarely a label which disappoints. They’ve certainly established a sound, which is reliable, but not repetitive. For their latest release they’ve enlisted the help of Newcastle based production trio consisting of Phobia, Sato and Tyrone.  Intermission is an upfront roller with an infusion of jungle sounds and Knock Knock packs a few punches.  A nice release for the dance floor.

IM:LTD have taken some time out this month from pounding the world of drum and bass with their delicious selections, but they’ve not had a month off, far from it. They’ve only gone and turned their attention to some dubstep. A genre which, to some, has almost become a dirty word. It’s safe to say though that this release has far more in common with the early days of dub step than the sound we’ve all come to know and love these days. The Wasteland EP consists of four tracks of bass and atmosphere. Wasteland opens up the release with an eyes down roller, Innervision takes it old school and Majora and Distracted round off the tracks with some shuffle and pads thrown in. The last two tracks remind me of early Mindset records tracks from people like Indigo and Synkro.    Personal stand out track for me has to be Distracted. A solid piece of music from a style of sound that I’d almost forgotten I liked.

On May 4th the first installment of “The Ends” took place in Amsterdam at OT301, a night dedicated to Grime by DJ Gomes, Mudde & Brutuzz.
This first edition featured non other than Preditah (with SafOne), D Double E & DJ Gomes and residents Mudde & Brutuzz.

Berlin based Martsman steps up for the latest techno release on Pushing Red. “Shrank” and “NYCD” both weigh in at less than 130 BPM despite bucket loads of shuffle. You’d be forgiven for describing these sounds as garagey.  Shrank has some uplifting progression and plenty of hi-hats and NYCD backs it all up nicely with some dub influenced tripped out sounds.  Another top release from Pushing Red. Their third this year in fact.