Singles file: new releases from VENT, Mesmer, Triage & Jaden

Each week, we pick out all the best new releases so you don't have to, and also warn you which ones to avoid like a breaks bootleg of Britney Spears. Your hosts: Stewart Gudgeon, Missmax and Johan Soh


SINGLE OF THE WEEK

VENT
Deviant Creatures pt2
(Hardcore Beats)

8/10


• Click here to check out a sample of Mantra

I'm loving this series as London's DJ Samurai and DC Breaks aka VENT (pictured, above) explore new sounds (and BPMs) as well as offer up a slice of huge tearout with each serving. The 'opening' track Lock Up is a very dubby dubstep track that avoids the filth and filter wobbles with stuttering low metallic stabs and swells accompanied by the odd hoover wobble. Hardware is reminiscent of dark D&B that was around at the beginning of the millennium with filtered builds of rumbling spooky basslines and live break samples, only it's too fast for breaks and too slow for jungle heads. Shape Without Colour could easily pass as the latest Massive Attack tune with beautiful twinkles and effects echoing around a pleasant soundscape with down tempo beats and a warm analogue bass. Mantra is where the breakbeat energy is with part 2 as the atmosphere builds from soft synths and Indian singing to loud tearout synths and tough beats. The track is very stop-start with about half of the beats being drum fills and edits by you can't deny the excitement if brought out at the right time in the club. (SG - Stewart@pogo-djs.co.uk)


Mesmer & DJ Zinn
Thinking of you
(Scarcity Records)

• Click here to listen to this release at the Scarcity website

8/10

This is the first outing from one of the most prominent producers on the eastern European scene on his own new imprint. I am of course referring to Romania's Mesmer, here working with DJ Zinn. Mesmer is best known for his melodic approach to breaks with every piece of music having his signature sound and attention to detail. This release is no exception. The first release on a new label is always a difficult one and I feel that the original track is a much more club friendly track than what you might be used to from Mesmer, and for that it does sacrifice some of the uniqueness of Mesmer’s production. The remixes (and there are loads) span from deeper shades of breaks thanks to Yreane to Wesley Dysart’s growling bassline assault on the other side of the spectrum. My personal favourite on the package is the techy mix by Adeser which strips down the original to its bare minimum of melody and vocal, with excellent PMT-esque result. Better still, it's available for free download from the Scarcity website. Go fill your boots. (JS - johan@soundofhabib.com)


Triage & Jaden
Bolt Action/Nautical Machine
Bombtraxx

• Click here for a clip of Bolt Action

7/10

US label Bombtraxx bring us a serious head down grind the floor release. Triage are a three piece team out of Seattle, now living in Portland, Oregon who have their fingers in a number of musical pies, including dubstep, drum 'n' bass, and in this instance breakbeat. They've teamed up with local DJ Jaden to produce some serious dark grooves. Bolt Action stands out as my favourite with its well-formed melodic synths, grinding jungle bassline and rolling break, plus an arrangement with just enough attitude to keep the track on the subtler end of tearout. Nautical Machine is another interesting tune, with clever production, slightly more darkness and distortion but just as much class. (MM - missmax@supatronix.org)