KEY POINTS:
The deliciously lucid beats and dark atmospherics of 174 Bpm, the opening track on Klute's Emperor's New Clothes, conjures up the image of a tardy kid slouching his way to school and getting up to lots of cheeky mischief. It's a stunner, and an ideal way to kick off this double disc consisting of one drum'n'bass CD and a strange and fruity collection of techno on the other.
While the first disc of Emperor's New Clothes is immediately satisfying, with Klute's rolling and uplifting drum'n'bass fit for any occasion, the second disc of techno will take longer to get your head around. If at all.
The off-kilter beats and warped noises of tracks like [expletive] Minimal makes for some interesting, at times cheesy, and often uneasy listening. You can't argue with the value for money however. But put it this way: Klute's drum'n'bass is better.
Unlike his namesake from kids' show Rainbow, Bungle from Brazil is a party animal. It's no surprise considering that country is home to Bungle's pal DJ Marky, the creator of stomping drum'n'bass mix album, The Brazilian Job. While Bungle's debut, Down To Earth, is not as varied as Marky's mix, it has that same celebratory party vibe that is uniquely Brazilian. It moves from the soulful and breezy If I Leave (that's like a sped-up Soul II Soul song) featuring Ayah; to the darker and more dangerous collaboration with Total Science on Snake Eyes. Album highlight is 13th Floor featuring Marky in all his smooth and swinging glory.
Meanwhile, moving on to something totally different, on first listen you fear Lost All Faith by duo Kryptic Minds and Leon Switch is about to get nasty. First track, Minor Nine, plucks the depths of those minor chords alright, and boy is it scary.
However, if you walked into the room halfway through the album you'd be forgiven for thinking it's a classical record. But never fear, because the beautiful Opus Dei is simply an extended orchestral interlude before it swings back into the arse-thrusting Steel Heart.
These guys produce drum'n'bass that has the steely feel of tech step and the danceability of jazzy drum'n'bass, but what makes it so different is how pristine it sounds. Basically, it sounds new, fresh and the build-ups (check out Steel Heart for the best example) are electrifying.
And lastly we have the most hyperactive of the bunch. Mostly, Matrix & Futurebound's Universal Truth is strictly for the dance floor, as shrill squelches, squealing guitar samples, and rump-shaking beats reach climax, after climax, after ... You get the idea. You've got to give it to them, they'll get any place slamming with their banging drum'n'bass. The addictive Knite Riderz, which puts the Knight Rider theme to excellent use, is an anthem in waiting.
However, what makes this album most convincing is the soul diva appearance of Robert Owens (yes, I know he's a guy but he sounds like a diva) on Family. It's an inspirational party-starter and those are two qualities all good drum'n'bass should have.
With this bunch of varied drum'n'bass releases, you can't go wrong.
Klute
The Emperor's New Clothes (Commercial Suicide)
Herald rating: * * * *
Verdict: Fifth album of rolling drum'n'bass and wonky techno from prolific producer
Bungle
Down To Earth (CIA/Nu Urban)
Herald rating: * * * *
Verdict: Brazilian lad from the DJ Marky school of beats
Kryptic Minds & Leon Switch
Lost All Faith (Defcom)
Herald rating: * * * * *
Verdict: You won't have heard drum'n'bass like this before
Matrix & Futurebound
Universal Truth (Viper)
Herald rating: * * * *
Verdict: Hyperactive release that's ripe for your next party
