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DJ support on the Counter Intelligence Propaganda LP includes the following: Alley Cat, Amon Tobin, Bailey, Breakage, Brett Offshore, Code, Dissident, DJ Trax, Equinox, ESB, Fanu, Fractional, Fracture & Neptune, Icicle & Switch, Implex, Jason oS, Martsman, Nucleus, Paul Reset, Resound, Rohan, Selector Moldy, Senses, Stunna, Voja, Rosco and John Doe.
Read the Propaganda LP promotional insert in PDF format or below for a full breakdown of the LP tracks!
Record One.
A – Jason oS - Nothing Is True (Equinox Remix)
B1 – Jason oS - Clark Nova / B2 – Jason oS -Ripley’s Theme
Jason Hockman is one of those talented artists with a shocking lack of releases, so we thought to give him an extra push and give him room for three tracks.
‘Nothing Is True’ is the opening track on this LP, sporting a rolling amen beat layered over a sub bass so low you won’t know what hit you. After a delicate breakdown Equinox, the don of choppage, turns the FX up and makes the rolling amen beat skitter and jump. A definite new atmospheric drum & bass classic!
Flip the record over for two more delicate workouts where Jason proves to the world why we at Counter Intelligence hail him as one of the freshest names in deep and funky drum & bass.
‘Clark Nova’ is a stepper with classic 808 drum sounds and ethereal string sounds, given extra depth by typewriter sound FX, break switches, a flute and a 96 reminiscent rave stab. Jason’s debut is rounded off with ‘Ripleys Theme’, coming at you with a rhythm part consisting of a variety of break beats solidly strung together in a totally new beat.
A brooding atmosphere, strings and a step pattern sub bass flesh out this little atmospheric gem.
Record Two.
C – Fractional – Constant Function
D – Selector Moldy – Assassin
Fractional has been active in the Dutch drum & bass scene for a number of years. He started and co-hosted one of the most successful club nights in Rotterdam (Prospect) and has been a resident for the Counter Intelligence club nights since we touched base in 2006. Being a self-taught producer with influences ranging between Photek, Bad Company and Dom & Roland we foresee a healthy musical future for him on the label and further abroad!
His first delivery is indeed a hefty one. Actually, we daresay that his ‘Constant Function’ is going to be THE hardcore tune of the year. Starting off with a menacing, brooding atmosphere and pumping rolling half step beats it turns into a screaming hardcore synthesizer monster with one of the scariest sub basses we have ever heard over our club’s sound system. Recommended to those looking for a floor killer and guaranteed fresh for years to come.
On the flipside we present you a minimalistic dubby beat workout from Maine’s Selector Moldy. Moldy has made quite a name for himself as a DJ, playing at lots of parties in NYC, and an up and coming producer. Last year he also started the highly successful dubstep label ‘Heavy Pressure’, garnering rave reviews and support. ‘Assassin’ is a top grade exercise in using minimal ingredients to cook up a maximally effective tune. Some of the nicest drum work we have heard with the Tighten Up break, an added dubby vocal commanding you to attention with the help of the bassline kicking in with the drop: it all combines to delivers a top class dance floor smasher. Further edits on the beats and a bitter sweet melody round the tune off nicely.
Record Three.
E1 – Titanium featuring John Doe – Rho (Separatist)
E2 – Moving Forward – U Know My Shadow
F – Moving Forward – Ethical Hardcore (Alpha Omega’s Coredump VIP Mix)
Label owner John Doe finally delivers some of his own original concepts here together with friends old and new. First up is the quirky electro step annex drill’n’bass monster simply called ‘? (Separatist)’. It was produced by John with his friend Titanium (who also makes a dizzying amount of other excellent music under other aliases, more about that later!). The idea came after John heard an electro rhythm by Titanium and asked “can we do this at 170bpm?” Another night out hearing nothing but the same old same old gave us the rest of the inspiration needed. Initially intended as a cruel joke to be used only in John’s DJ sets to get a ‘different’ crowd response, the concept was fleshed out into a (we think) great tune with some original sounds (wow!).
A second e-side is delivered by John and even longer time friend Lennaart. They made music as ‘Moving Forward’ from 1998 until around 2002 when changes in their respective personal lives caused an indefinite hiatus.
‘U Know My Shadow’ was made on an Atari, an old Roland Juno 106 and a Boss 8 bit sampler and recorded in one of the very productive Sunday afternoon sessions in Lennaart’s studio.
It is an electronic composition where the Juno delivers both bass and several melody lines. Sampled crusty 8 bit beats provide a framework over which these elements work to an epic crescendo in true oldskool acid fashion.
Another tune from ‘Moving Forward’ was resurrected by giving ‘Ethical Hardcore’ a huge overhaul from the 1998 edit which was roughly 3 ½ minute long. Label stalwart Alpha Omega stepped up to give it a remix.
Steppy beats, a menacing ‘hardcore’ vocal, a buzzing siren and a grizzling and sizzling monster bass push you on to the drop, after which Mr. Lindo sprinkles some Amen magic replacing the stepping beat with a mad ‘hands in the air – air drums’ chopping Amen beat. Washes of synthesizer pads and string sounds soothe your ears after the breakdown. Top remix from one of the remaining ‘stay true to the oldskool’ producers from the Reinforced camp.
Record Four.
G – Implex & Voja – Snowflake
H – Implex – Sonar
The last record on the album features the true international collaboration between Russia’s Implex and Serbia’s Voja. Their ‘Snowflake’ features sci-fi roller beats, a synthetic “plastic fantastic” bass, washes of atmospheric sounds and an electro style bleeping melody. Imagine a hybrid between Calibre, Polar and popular electro.
Implex himself then delivers a deeper, funkier slice of space funk with ‘Sonar’, where a twanging guitarish synth sound leads the way into heavenly bliss with woolly atmospheric sounds, snappy beats and percussive bell sounds.