Stray’s Pursuit was first blogged on our site, April of last year after being featured in the Critical Records podcast. It finally sees the day of light on Warm Communications to much anticipation. On the flip side, we have ‘Poison’ featuring Halogenix with yet another killer collaboration between two very talented producers with very intricate drum programming. This is definitely a double A-side release!

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Known in the drum & bass world as being one of the most diverse producers “Stray” graces Warm alongside good friend & fellow producer “Halogenix”. “The Pursuit” is one of Stray’s most anticipated pieces of music and rightly so. Punishing kicks and scattered amens give way to rattling bass and menacing atmospheres. “Poison” sees both producers on a very leftfield vibe. A completely unnerving atmosphere sets the tone while scattered snares, growling bass and the perfect vocal weave in & out. One for the heads who like their beats deep.

The meeting came about when Travis and Jim realised they were working in parallel on the same concept of finding the sweet spot between mid-90’s euphoric jungle and footwork, so naturally they set about working out how to find it together.

The ‘Reworkz EP‘ moves backwards and forwards in time with ‘Be Free’ treating Jungle’s diva samples with footwork pitch bending and repetition while adding huge uplifting chords that capture the euphoria of rave perfectly. It’s then laid over tough, rolling 808 kicks and snares at 160bpm with a carpet of pumping, rhythmic sub-bass resulting in a new hybrid that is both fresh and energetic.

‘Give a Lil Luv’ is, if anything, even more euphoric, like rolling thunder with an intense, melodic use of samples and chord stabs with metallic breaks building into a spiky mesh of rhythms.

On side B ‘Set it’ draws classic dancehall, soul and reggae samples across a perfect mix of fast juke cymbals and jungle amens, each part casually camouflaging the other, tempering footwork’s sometimes intimidating sparseness and filling it with rich, warm and sincere rave energy.

http://www.planet.mu/discography/ZIQ313

Buy the vinyl: http://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/448173-01.htm

A. Drum Track
AA. No Hook No BS Ft Flirta D (Drum Track Vocal)
Night Slugs
CAT NUMBER: NSWL010
RELEASE DATE: 19 Mar ’12

Some of the artists featured on this compilation have been a part of the label from its very beginning, like CYNE, Manuvers and Jahbitat, whose song will be the last one he produced and published under this moniker, while others, like Robot Koch, fLako and Long Arm, are outstanding examples of its growing popularity and success. Furthermore, the box also features an exceptional selection of close musical friends and inspirational artists like Jehst, Dday One, Kwala and Ichiro_, just to name a few.

The logo and artwork represent someone who was very close to the label, especially in the early years but unfortunately passed on and whom this box is dedicated to. Featured on the compilation are artists such as Mike Slott x Diane Badié, CYNE, Sweatson Klank aka Take, Jahbitat, Robot Koch, fLako, Jehst, Beat Butcha, Long Arm, Kelpe, Pavel Dovgal, Blossom, Daisuke Tanabe, Dday One, Inner Science, Substantial, Arts The Beatdoctor, Rain Dog, Kidkanevil + Microkorg by Dorian Concept, John Robinson, Sorrow, Rumpistol, The Red Baron, Christoph El’ Truento, 40 Winks, Sina., 1000Names, DZA, Ichiro_, EAN, Tom Dicicco, Headshotboyz, Graciela Maria, Gards From KC, Sekuoia of Kilimanjaro, Sense of The Q4, Sneaky, I.V.A., Empt, John LaMonica, Mike Gao, Bambooman, Manuvers, Krts, Kwala, Soosh, Memotone, Sun Glitters, Called Understandable Souls & Szenario.

The limited box includes 2 white & 2 black vinyl LP’s with 32 tracks, 13 additional digital bonus tracks, a T-shirt (only at hhv) and a poster (with digital download code) all in a specially designed box that features a special light-reflecting varnish, which makes this truly a collectors and music lovers item.

MP3 Download ▸▸ http://projectmooncircle.bandcamp.com/album/10th-anniversary-compilation
4LP (white vinyl) BOX + SHIRT ▸▸ http://www.hhv.de/item_266737.html
4LP (white vinyl) BOX ▸▸ http://www.hhv.de/item_266736.html

Project: Mooncircle 10th Anniversary Compilation Snippet

As producer, he got his first releases on Basswerk in 2007. Winner of the prestigious italian contest Elettrowave Challenge 2008 as “best dnb italian dj-producer”, he signed a brilliant single (Crawler – Weirdraws) on the notorious dutch label Citrus, receiving massive dj support all around the world. That was followed by two 12″ in collaboration with the kiwi legend Cern, on the mighty Leeds based Dispatch Recordings amongst other releases on Triple Vision’s dutch group and other european labels.

For 2011-12 the pipeline sees the heavily supported remix of ‘Back In the Grind’ with Cern, a solo 4 tracks EP on Dispatch, a single 12″ on the respected Horizons Music (London) and some collabo’s and remixes with the likes of Cause4Concern, Bulletproof, June Miller, Amoss and Future Signal to name but a few.

In the years he received big support from big artists like Laurent Garnier, Ed Rush & Optical, Andy C, Cause4Concern, Dj Marky, Chris.SU, State Of Mind to name but a few, and took care of a remix for the mainstream italian band Subsonica for EMI.

2011 is the year of the born for Avantgarde, his own label in co-ownewrship with the long time friend Grotesque. The first 12″ will see the light in late 2011, with stars like the russian Enei and Heavy1 involved. Watch this space!

Mp3: http://www.junodownload.com/products/subsidiary-ep/1930573-02/
Vinyl: http://www.juno.co.uk/products/subsidiary-ep-part-1/450171-01/

Deviant drum and bass with intense highs, effusive bass and reggae vocals.

http://soundcloud.com/utopia-music/mute-mako-always-utopia

It was Ghostpoet, newly signed to Brownswood in March of 2010, who brought the music of Gang Colours to the labels attention, requesting a remix of his debut single Cash & Carry Me Home from the young, Southampton-based producer. His MySpace page was a jumble of off-kilter house cuts and slower, introspective, syncopated ditties thick with darting synths and hummable melodies which really resonated with us. As Gilles himself says: I guess we fell in love with Will’s music gradually… he seduced us… but pretty soon we were head over heels. I think he’s going to have the same effect on a lot of people.

Striking out in June 2011 with his debut EP In Your Gut Like A Knife a neat summary of his electronic excursions at that point the beautifully artworked 12 acted as a portal into a world of daydreams, tumbling into shadows and embracing luminescence simultaneously. Breeding surreal headphone-friendly landscapes, he struck a peculiar and delicate balance between otherworldly and familiarity, at times sneaking a sly glance towards the dance floor but mostly conjuring a sense of longing and rye melancholy. Ticking with a distinctive bounce and rhythm, it comes as no surprise that Gang Colours was raised on the bump and grind of UKG. But the fact that the 24 year old counts Laurie Anderson ( It s kind of minimal, experimental and heavy on the spoken word. The production is amazing. ) and Basquiat as well as hometown heroes the Artful Dodger among his influences, it’s clear that he is coming from a different perspective altogether.

Garage had a dance element and it had the emotion, the evocative side. And that ticked my boxes. But the groove of garage, and the tempo those are characteristics that were really inspiring. The Streets Original Pirate Material just that track alone, especially the use of piano, really inspired me to make something different that could have a profound impact on someone.

Taking a step back from chopped n screwed RnB vocals and the swing of UKG, The Keychain Collection explores more sombre recesses within Gang Colours palette. The scattered Technicolor synth melodies that characterised his EP are present, but softer… cosier even… weaving betwixt and between forthright piano chords and Will s own vocals.

Aligning the symbolism of his childhood keychain collection as doorways to distant memories, leagues of meaning hide in the simplicity of the song titles assembled on his debut album. Tissues and fivers are two of the interesting items that my Nan s black labrador used to eat and Rollo [ Rollo s Ivory Tale ] is my grandad s middle name. I recorded this track on his childhood piano. Ten tracks deep then, The Keychain Collection eloquently captures Gang Colours first steps on a long road. We re looking forward to sharing the journey.

http://soundcloud.com/liarinth