Midnight Request - Groove All Night

This guy has got it dooooown.

I know very little of Midnight Request other than that he is a liquid producer from Belgium, but after hearing this i've got to do a little delve into his back catalogue. 'Groove All Night' hits you like a breath of fresh air; gentle, mellow liquid production with those jazzy undertones will put you at ease straight away. One for the drifters.

Available as a free download, part of the 'Soul Matters' compilation v.2. which features a number of incredible tunes like this from some seriously underrated producers. Grab it here.

Foreign Concept - Endless Fade

Foreign Concept makes a return to Critical with the new 'Making Meals' EP and it's his most cultivated release to date. The EP is an eclectic masterpiece; Foreign Concept is boundless in production when it comes to genre and influence, each track has its own unique sound that designates its place in the structure of the EP. 

'Endless Fade' featuring vocals from Naomi Olive is one of those tracks that takes you to another place. Dreamy liquid production and tender vocals that act as a musical hot water bottle.

'Making Meals' EP is available via Beatport & Critical from the 1st September, and everywhere else from the 17th.

Crissy Criss - Create The Future

Tonight is Crissy Criss's last show on 1xtra and its a crying shame.

 I've been locking into D&B Wednesdays on 1xtra consistently for a long time now and its been one of my main resources in finding new music.

 The guy is a true veteran of drum & bass, persistently promoting and ultimately contributing to the growth of the drum & bass over the years. Crissy Criss has hosted some incredible, landmark shows over his radio career and Wednesday nights may not be the same, but its good to see that there is still more to come.

Now turning his focus back to production, Crissy Criss's appropriately titled 'Create The Future' celebrates this milestone in his career.

Released via Technique.

Purchase here.

Legion & Logam - House Of Cards

Brand new release on Ram Records. American producers Legion & Logam collaborate (not for the first time) to produce House Of Cards. A dark, roller of a production with a smooth, melodic twist governed by the vocal assistance from Adam Wright.
Available from Monday 1st September.
Pre-Order via Ram Records.

DJ Fresh - Flashlight (Metrik Remix)

DJ Fresh is prepping for a re-entry into the UK top 40 charts with his latest single 'Flashlight', this time teaming up with arguably one of the most remixed artists in the UK right now, Ellie Goulding. London-based DJ/Producer Metrik has stepped up for official remix duties. Having blown up the scene with his latest hit single 'Want My Love' and a forthcoming album in process, Metrik is hitting it big, making him  the most suitable candidate for the job.

'Flashlight' will be released via Ministry of Sound Recordings, October 5th.

Oliver $ & Jimi Jules - Pushing On (Tchami Remix)

Tchami has a staple sound that differentiates him from a lot of the other house acts that have been emerging lately.

Ever since hearing my first Tchami tune, 'Promesses', it became obvious that there was a lot more to come from the French future house producer, and there hasn't been a remix or production I haven't liked since then.

 This makes for no exception, his latest remix for Oliver $ & Jimi Jules's track 'Pushing On' is a ready-made club banger and undeniable crowd pleaser.

Available from August 31st .

Breakage - Come With It

Breakage and Digital Soundboy generously give away 'Come With It' in the true spirit of Carnival. Unfortunately all the keen, soggy ravers who turned up to the DSB stage at Carnival yesterday were left disappointed as the generator for the sound system flooded and the performances couldn't go ahead. I however was lucky enough to grab myself some official after-party tickets where Breakage delivered a strong set and all was made up for. Going back to the old school on this production - simplistic jungle vibes that cannot be knocked, especially when its free.

Marcus Visionary - Computer Love

Drum & Boogie.

Kicking off the Carnival weekend with a brand new funky, upbeat summer jam from Marcus Visionary.
In the spirit of things, it's only right that the download is given away for free.

Love the vibes on this, its like jungle meets daft punk.

 Marcus Visionary will be playing alongside many others this Monday at Notting Hill Carnival - Digital Soundboy @ Sir Lloyds Stage, Tavistock Rd.

Free D/L

Billon - Special (Nu:Tone Remix)

This tune has only come out on Soundcloud 2 hours ago and i'm already fully in love with it.

An incredible remix from Nu:Tone of Billon's recent house track 'Special' featuring the vocals of Maxine Ashley which lend themselves nicely to the reshape in genre.

An easy-going, ligthearted remix from Hospital veteran Nu:Tone and an ideal track for this time of year. Available alongside the original in October via Rinse.

Kimberly Anne - Liar (Jakwob Remix)

Jakwob on the remix duties for Kimberly Anne's track 'Liar'; supplying the track with a well-thought, captivating production loaded with sentiment.

Available alongside the 'Liar' EP, available from August 24th.

Pre-Order

Shapeshifter vs. The Upbeats - Bloodstream

Two of New Zealands biggest drum & bass acts come together, 'Bloodstream' is the debut track to come off of the SSXUB EP available from September 12th.

Bloodstream is a hard-hitting stomper of a track, nothing less than expected from a collaboration like this, both parties carry something different in their production styles and therefore I'm looking forward to the five-track EP.

Hyroglifics & Kolectiv - Tize

All eyes over to Dispatch Recordings for this latest release from Hyroglifics & Kolectiv - 'Tize' is a menacing and ominous track.
Hyroglifics first release via Dispatch, teamed up with the Kolectiv trio to produce a dark, techy monster of a track. 

Really hoping to hear this and more tracks like it get dropped at the Dispatch Recordings - Cern album launch party at Plan B, Brixton this Friday.

Released alongside two other productions (Terra / The Fear) from each respective producer in the collab. Available now to purchase here.

Submorphics - Long Been Gone

Submorphics debut single on the Shogun Audio sister label SGN:LTD. 

'Long Been Gone' and its B-side 'Rosewood' deliver a clean and emotive liquid production style that cannot be slated.

 My favourite release from Submorphics, and looking forward to more tracks to come like this.

Shannon Saunders - Sheets

Make room for some new fresh, young, female British talent. 20-year-old Shannon Saunders delivers with her catchy, memorable and melodious debut single 'Sheets'. 

Major affiliations unnecessary, the track has already proved to be hugely popular online, and in keeping steady with this level of production we can expect to be hearing a lot more from this young talent in the coming months.

London Grammar - If You Wait (Shy FX Remix)

Carnival weekend is just around the corner and theres nothing more suitable to get you in the right spirits than Shy FX's new remix for London Grammar's 'If You Wait'. 

The track has been completely transformed, with a reggae baseline and the signature trumpets and percussion, Shy FX has cemented himself an end-of-summer anthem that can't help but make you nostalgic.

Catch Shy FX headlining at the Digital Soundboy Stage (Sir Lloyds Stage - Tavistock Road) at Notting Hill Carnival this Monday alongside the rest of the DSB crew and some other ridiculously big names.

Lane 8 - I Got What You Need (S.P.Y Remix)

Irresistible tune, Hospital favourite S.P.Y steps over to Ministry of Sound for the remix of Lane 8's 'I Got What You Need'.

Everything SPY touches turns into gold dust, and this is no exception to that statement. 100% my kind of downtime music, can't fault it - this guy has produced some of my favourite remixes this year, and in cases improved some of my favourite tunes that I didn't think could be improved.
 This is the kind of tune you could lay back and chill to on a rainy day, but by the same means has the potential to get a crowded room moving. Versatile and thoughtfully produced.

Keep posted for S.P.Y's 'Back to Basics 2' forthcoming on Hospital Records.

www.facebook.com/thespymusic

Wiz Khalifa - We Dem Boyz (Fourward Bootleg)

For those who weren't aware, it was the D&B Soundclash this week over on Radio 1, a huge celebration of Radio 1 & 1xtra's continuous support of dnb over the last 12 years which saw four of the leading drum labels go head to head in a series of rounds in which the hosts, Crissy Criss and Mistajam, as well as the listening public decided the winner of each round and ultimately the whole soundclash.

It was Hospital vs Shogun vs Viper vs Ram and it was epic - if you missed it, listen back here.

This track comes from the Bootleg round which saw an artist from each label bootleg a track of a different genre - Fourwards bootleg for Shogun Audio of Wiz Khalifa's 'We Dem Boyz' was my personal favourite bootleg and is now available as a free download. Heavy.

hwww.facebook.com/fourwarddnb

Neon Jungle - Louder (Hamilton Remix)

RAM Records' Hamilton on the remix for Neon Jungle's latest single 'Louder'. Feel good vibes on this one. People might reference this kind of drum track is a guilty pleasure, mainly because its a remix of a pop tune which largely features the original vocals, but I'm feeling a lot of pleasure and not so much guilt. Not the usual weightiness that you'd expect to hear coming from Hamilton, but a tune nonetheless.

Purchase here

DJ Hazard - Bricks Don't Roll

Next up is a naughty little tune from DJ Hazard which will be recurring in your head all day from the first listen. Came across this banger at Boomtown (a festival I highly recommend, probably the best I've been to) - heard this tune get dropped in a couple sets over the weekend and had everybody going in, I wasn't aware of the track at the time but came back home to find it was Friction's Fire track of the week on Radio 1. If you circulate the rave scene, expect to hear a lot more of this.

'Bricks Don't Roll' EP is available August 25th via. Playaz; purchase here.

Jess Glynne - Right Here (TC Remix)

TC on the remix duties for Jess Glynne's latest smash hit single 'Right Here'.
A simplistic but every bit effective approach; keeping the hook of the original in tact, but reinforcing it with a heavy, rolling bassline, TC brings out the darker side to Jess Glynne's tune.

Free download.

Rockwell - INeedU / 1_2_3_4

I'm aware these tunes have made the rounds now and most people who keep focus on the DnB scene or have gone raves over the past couple months have probably heard Rockwell's most recent double-release on Shogun. 

Despite INeedU and 1234 sounding nothing like each other, they have received equally mixed reviews namely because of how different they sound, especially coming from a DnB and Shogun veteran.

I for one though like the release, and have expressed my support of experimental music coming off drum labels, it's good to see versatility and the ability for producers to stretch the genre in new ways - also i've heard 1234 get dropped in a couple sets and it makes me get a bit silly really.
Out now via. Shogun Audio - purchase here.

Redlight - Cure Me (DJ Die Remix)

As of late my summer has been picking up momentum, I've been making a lot more plans and heading out to a lot more events/festivals since returning to London and ultimately the frequency of blog posts has taken its toll. The summer isn't over yet so I can't promise this won't carry on, but to make up for this i'm trying to do a resurgence of tunes to make up for the long, awkward gaps.

Kicking off with this tasty little remix from DJ Die of Redlight's hit 'Cure Me' - wasn't a huge fan of the original but this reinterpretation does the trick for me, a sultry intro cut short by a barrage of jungle breaks all kept infused with the soft melody of the tune. Blisstening.

Released on the 'Cure Me' official remix EP; purchase here.