Three Massive Jungle Singles Reviewed
David Hickling, our Junglist reviewer, takes on another 3 big Jungle singles this month.
Stretch “Without You”
Legendary jungle producer Stretch released “Without You” (in collaboration with the relatively unknown Enjoy) on a digital download a few weeks ago from his very own AKO Beatz label. Stretch is highly revered for his timeless productions and remixes in the mid 1990s at the height of the jungle explosion becoming one of the top producers and appearing on countless classic jungle compilations in the ensuing years. For those curious, take a look at his Discogs catalogue for more information.
Stretch’s AKO Beatz releases are always eagerly anticipated, and “Without You” tastefully samples Marlena Shaw’s 1982 quiet storm soul track “Without You In My Life” giving the samples and vocals a newly fantasied style and vibe. Stretch uses a couple of intertwining breaks and his signature deep heavy sustained sub basslines which rumble away in the background.
This track is laid back, never in a hurry and gently helps you de-tense those shoulders and loosen any stresses you had before hitting play. Whilst many a producer envision pounding, frantic and boisterous jungle rhythms designed to keep you bouncing off the walls and subwoofers all day and night, Stretch is keen to fashion the ultimate soulful vibes whilst reminding us of the distinct feminine presence of Marlena Shaw’s longing and searching vocals.
This could be just another regular track.
But over halfway through, Stretch drops out the drums and bass for a delicate and ponderous breakdown. Using the instrumental sample of “Without You In My Life”, Stretch leaves us hanging on a string with some carefully profiled chord changes – this for me highlights the distinct identity of the track, a lovely and refreshing change to conventional off-the-shelf jungle breakdowns we hear day in day out.
Stretch fully reflects the soulful cadences and thought of Marlena Shaw throughout the track, an elegant use of the sample and vocals from an undoubted genius of the game.
For those soul and rare groove fans, this is definitely one track you should get your hands on!
Lemon & Mint “Giant Spear”
Now for a truly Pan-European sound from Belgian four-piece Lemon & Mint who released track “Giant Spear” on Portuguese jungle label AMEN Lisboa. This one appears as the second track on the four track “Underwater Duel EP” which was available on an early exclusive digital download on Beatport a couple of weeks ago.
“Giant Spear” is an atmospheric and conceptual Babylon “Splash” esque track, minus the dog barking and legendary Caribbean film quotes.
This is more an unintended trespass through a deep, never ending tropical rainforest, before flicking your Timotei washed hair back behind your head under a towering and imposing waterfall.
There is a silky mix of ambient sounds, bird singing and smooth filtering which really connects the track together, giving you the impression you’re zigzagging through a crowd of dense leafed trees in the Congo, as deep sub basses boom under stirring and stimulating pads. Not only that but a bright and energetic Soulpride break nicely counters a choppy Think break.
Although there already is a wide selection of contemporary ambient jungle out there, most of it feels blunt, failing to stimulate and generally sound all the same.
Where “Giant Spear” differs to the rest is more about Lemon & Mint’s sharp attention to detail like the offsetting delayed snares, occasionally reversing for a connecting groove. The tasteful influences of work by Splash “Babylon” and DJ NKS “Speared” can be heard, reflecting a journey back to Africa, conjuring up a meditating and tribalistic jungle theme.
Certainly not a track to be sniffed at, and hopefully a sign of more to come from the Belgian quartet currently releasing a mixture of ghetto tech, broken beat, garage and jungle music on the Portuguese Forbidden Frequencies label. Although based on “Giant Spear” perhaps just stick to the jungle music if you ask me!
New Decade “Past Tense”
It’s over to East London for Out Of Romford’s New Decade duo Paul Smailes and Bill Vega. “Past Tense” which was released in addition to “All Too Much” on vinyl at the tail end of 2025 now gets its digital release.
The Romford Peles’ of the jungle scene start the track off introducing a soothing upbeat two chord bell like sequence before a plethora of old school breaks jostle for position, New Decade season this off with some lightly fragranced sound effects and whispering female vocals.
Before we know it, an ominous male sci-fi voice announces “Our Future” before the drop and we are introduced to a loose, snappy jungle break with its prominent but carefully disciplined “uhh” percussive vocal as the vehicle for this luring groove.
The use of a more obscure main break must be appreciated and the fact that it works well in particular with the bassline on “Past Tense” gives me the assurance that this sleekly produced track stands above the Amen-heavy and more dynamically contrasting A-side “All Too Much”.
“Past Tense” is indeed a busy track with not a second wasted as sound effects, drum fills, infrequent vocal cries and mid-range rave stabs bustle amongst the attentively scored rolling breakbeats, perhaps giving us the implication of a divide between the past simplicities, and the future tense of complexity and forever changing worlds.
Although it has that typical 1990s aura about it, the track actually feels like a modern-day jungle track. You will hear the odd feint riser working its way up to the downbeat and some use of low and high pass filtering on breaks such as the Amen which give it that contemporary correction.
For the DJs out there, “Past Tense” is a delightful track to mix in, the bell chords intro proving a defining melodic shift if needed. The breaks within the drop and second drop will give you the chance to enjoy some interesting breakbeat matching as you mix it out. A really neat effort from the Romford boys.
Reviews by David Hickling for Junglist Network
