David Hickling reviews DJ Trace, Fez The Kid & Duality and Time Travel new releases
This Month’s Jungle Reviews From David Hickling
Fresh new Jungle from DJ Trace, Fez The Kid & Duality and Time Travel.
Veteran jungle and hard stepper producer DJ Trace is back with the fully engrossing “Rotation (original mix)” last month. Taken off the rather lengthy various artists compilation titled Forbidden Codes 3 on his own label 117 Records.
USA based Trace has contributed a number of tracks to Forbidden Codes 3, including Ditch (VIP) and Path (Myth VIP). However, “Rotation” strikes as the standout track of the three and interestingly, this track appears as the very last on the 22 track compilation.
The “Tramen” producer starts the track off with a haunting, trembling bell pad, painting a bleak picture ahead as a chirpy mid-range tightly compressed Think break slaughters away without batting an eyelid.
Trace forfeits the groove for some pure atmospheric vibes on “Rotation”, when a dominant and droning bass slams through the speakers early on, joining the pad and break for company – a hallmark weapon of Trace’s edgy and non-meandering style. A disillusioned female voice wails away occasionally, adding to the sour and desolate feeling of the track.
The quivering and haunting pad hovers around throughout the track only once leaving the mix briefly, seemingly walking through walls like a re-appearing ghost. Its nervous occupation serves as the main identity of “Rotation” and almost gives me the impression we are seeing a ghost of the past; recounting, revisiting and reminding us of a time once gone.
To conclude the review of “Rotation”, I admit I’m not a massive DJ Trace fan although he is undoubtedly a bonified legend of the scene. However, this is one of my favourite productions he’s recently released, a return to the sort of form of the late 1990s/early 2000s.
A truly sinister number, and perhaps an excellent option to any DJ who needs an atmospheric track to break up a couple of bare bones tech/hard step drum n bass rhythms.
Fez The Kid & Duality “Touch N Go”
It’s very difficult not to get excited when Fez The Kid releases a new track let alone a full EP’s worth of tracks. And so, it’s time to literally wet your pants because today we are looking at one of those tracks taken off the “Fully Lucid EP Volume 2”, in collaboration with fellow Bristolian based producer Duality, marking the second collaborated EP by the producers.
This is a laid-back jazzy jungle affair and perhaps some would say, quite a contrast from The Kid’s usual brash, bashy and rude boy style heard in most of his output.
The track begins with some uplifting Jazzy Garage style chord stabs before a nicely syncopated Apache break struts away, accompanied by a howling female diva singing and moaning away “Loving You”.
The Kid’s intent on avoiding repetition and keeping things moving is prevalent through “Touch N Go” which shifts through a refreshing balance of the Apache and Soulpride breaks, providing an excellent mix of groove and syncopation without ever becoming over complicated. A teasing ride cymbal rhythm glues the two breaks together nicely.
Arriving at the mid-point of the track we are courted by a soft nostalgic two chord pad sequence; this is followed by a nicely contrasted Soulpride break drop as the bass notes bounce away – my highlight of the track.
Fez The Kid further amplifies his position as potentially pound-for-pound the best jungle producer of his generation with this EP. “Think Twice” is another quality jungle track; perhaps more edgy and daring than the laid-back style of “Touch N Go” although the whole EP is certainly worth a spin.
We in the jungle scene are lucky to have such a talent in Fez The Kid who has thankfully exploited his natural skills of producing authentic jungle music, time after time.
Time Travel – “Star Systems”
Coinciding with some recent astronaut’s exploration into outer space this month we have Time Travel with “Star Systems”.
Time Travel is certainly not a household name in the jungle scene. In fact, it took me a while to do some digging about this artist as there is hardly any artist information except that the producer has released tracks under record labels Rough Guidance and Bitewise in recent years and is perhaps a male (and a human being!).
Nonetheless, Time Travel released an EP in late March called “Time & Tide” on the Bitewise Records label providing some gravity defying intergalactic jungle rhythms, “Star Systems” is my favourite of the bunch. You can find the EP on Juno download as an exclusive.
Gliding through deep dark space and encountering alien worlds is a frequent topic by Jungle music producers in years gone by. “Star Systems” begins with a Sport-Esque break and some slinky sci-fi sound effects as you strap in for some sonic star chasing.
My favourite aspect of the track is the subtle but funky chromatic bassline. It’s not the grooviest of tracks but the cheeky bassline fits very nicely against the cosmic backdrop and mildly syncopated breaks. Is this more of a leisurely sonic adventure than a clench fist life-or-death alien war of attrition?
The Amen break features intermittently throughout “Star Systems” with an interesting kick flavoured rhythm which appears unable to ever resolve itself – and that’s great we love living on the edge of our seats! The Amen interwinds with the Sport-esque break during the main sections of the track as the occasional space themed sounds bounce away off each other in the mid-range.
A tidy track without ever mounting the title as a jungle classic of the ages. Regardless, this track has the flexibility to be able to crossover in a variety of different jungle mixes if and when called for.
Reviews by David Hickling
