It’s been a long time coming but Loxy and Resound’s debut album “Burning Shadows” has finally arrived on dbridge’s Exit imprint and it’s a ragga infused tech drum’n'bass belter.

The album’s 13 tracks feature eerie sci-fi style atmospheric soundscapes with plenty of menacing dub bass and sparse d’n'b percussion. I’ve been listening to this a lot in the last month and, while it has one eye on the past, it has the other firmly on the future and perfectly encapsulates their unique sound.

Stand out tracks for me are “Sin City” with its fear inducing acidic bass line and half time feel (think of it as the perfect music for the chase scene from Ridley Scott’s “Alien“) , and “Conqueror X” with its deep dark repetitive bass line.

Perfect late night listening – just make sure the doors are locked……

Available now through the Exit shop at Surus.

This week’s classic is “Little Fluffy Clouds”, taken from the The Orb’s seminal album “The Orb’s Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld” released in 1991.

Using various samples (the most recognisable being the electric guitar from Steve Reich’s excellent composition “Electric Counterpoint”, and the harmonica sample taken from Ennio Morricone’s “The Man With The Harmonica”) it mixes sound effects, vocal samples, & dubby bass with ambient house.

If you haven’t got any Orb on your mp3 player of choice then a good place to start would be their 1993 album “Live ’93″, which features epic live versions of many of their tracks including “Little Fluffy Clouds”.

The Orb – Little Fluffy Clouds

Due for release on the 20th of September on their own Product label, “Turn The Page” marks Craggz & Parallel’s return to the drum’n'bass scene after a two year hiatus – and it’s a sonic ear opener.

Combining analogue synths & drums, with techno sub-bass and d’n'b rhythms, it’s clear it’s going to turn a few heads when it sees a full release. With support coming from the likes of Andy C, Fabio & Grooverider, Bailey, Marcus Intalex, Goldie, and Breakage (who said “…Craggz & Parallel are about to flip D&B on it’s head…“) it’s one of the most eagerly awaited releases in years.

Give your bass bins a work out with the tracks below, and if you’re liking the sounds you can pick up a copy here.

Craggz & Parallel – Futureshock

Craggz & Parallel – Forever

My turn again for the Friday Classic, and I’ve chosen the opening track from Aphex Twin’s brilliant debut release “Selected Ambient Works 85–92“.

Released in 1992, to critical acclaim at the time, it has been hailed by Warp Records as being “both the birthplace and the benchmark of modern electronic music”.

Compared to some of his other offerings (the disturbing “Come to Daddy” for instance!), “Xtal” is muted by comparison – but it’s the sort of tune you could imagine being played on the sound system after a heavy night of clubbing, guaranteed to get the head nodding. Big reverby bass & drums, and catchy vocal samples.

A classic album that you should have in the collection. Enjoy.

Aphex Twin – Xtal

If you’ve been following the previous Sunday Roast recipe ideas you’ll have been listening to some cracking music while consuming a lot of meat.

Just to mix things up a bit, for a change, here’s a wee “roasted pancetta wrapped fish with salad” recipe to try out. This is best served with some of the following fresh accompaniments on the sound system.

First up and recently released on the Ghostly label is Phuturelabs favourite Mux Mool’s “Wax Rose Saturday EP”. Glitchy lo fi hip hop electronica is the order of day here. If you’re liking the sound of it you can legally download the opening track “Wax Rose Saturday (Remux Edit)” for free here and buy the entire EP here. Good stuff.

Mux Mool – Valley Girls

Next up, we have US band Themselves who are about to drop a remix EP called “CrownsDown & Company” on Anticon. When we saw the Laser Sword name on the list we knew this was something to share. Its melted down 8-bit robot si fi with funk DNA.

Themselves – You Ain’t It (Laser Sword Remix)

For dessert we celebrate the release of the first in a new mix series by !K7. “Songs For Endless Cities” has been given the Brackles treatment and has a who’s who of the current bass music scene on the tracklist. We’ve got a remix of Ellie Goulding that didn’t make the final cut for you to get your ears round.

Ellie Goulding- Under The Sheets (Brackles Remix) by !K7 Records

I’ve got to admit it’s been a wee while since I last heard a debut release as good as this one.

Luke Abbott’s “Holkham Drones” is a sublime listening experience. From the opening track “2nd 5th Heavy” to closing number “Dumb” it combines ambient with droney IDM, soundtrack with techno beats. Released last week on the Border Community label (which also counts Ricardo Tobar & Nathan Fake among its fold) it’s a brilliant debut release. If you’re liking the sounds you can pick it up here.

Luke Abbott – Brazil

Luke Abbott – Holkham Drones

The Phuturelabs Inbox recently received an email from Global Goon (aka Johnny Hawk) with some sneak previews of his upcoming album “Earwhig“.

With tracks ranging from disco inspired acid, downtempo ambience to electro house funk it’s an eclectic acidy mash up of styles, and his first release for over two years.
With previous releases on Rephlex, WéMè, Balkan Vinyl, and his own J-Hok label, this one is available for free download on the Myuzyk label from the 20th of September 2010.

I’ve picked my favourite off the album for your listening pleasure.

Global Goon – Bruuuk

And if you’re liking the sound of that you can check his mini-mix, featuring tracks from the album here.

Washinton DC based drum & bass label Translation Recordings are due to release their first digital LP entitled “Without Borders” at the end of August – and it’s a cracking first release!

Featuring tracks from ASC (who has previously featured on Paul Reset’s Nerve 021 release), Mindmapper, DBR(UK), Marginal, Dub Phizix, Edward Oberon, Grimm, Nusense, Stranjah, Resound, Slider & Expose it covers a range of styles from sparse dubby minimal tunes, to neuro, to harsh heavy amen rollers. I’ve picked out two of my favourites to give you an idea. You can pick the entire release up here.

First up is Welsh man (by way of NYC) Edward Oberon and his track “Void”. This one is a heavy head nodding, dance floor filler.

Second one is from Stranjah with “J-Train”. More heavy dubness and some old skool sounds before the Amen breaks come rolling in big style.

Dating from 1991, Orbital’s “Belfast” stands out for me as being an absolute classic in electronic music terms.

Featuring an ethereal vocal sample taken from Hildegard von Bingen’s “O Euchari in leta via“, the track falls somewhere between downtempo house & chillout anthem.

The soundtrack to many a weekend for me & countless people over the years, and guaranteed to put a smile on your face if you didn’t already have one. Brilliant.

Belfast – Orbital

Surprise your friends, amuse your enemies, start the party with a bang!

Let’s face it- if you’re going to get a roast on it might as well be the meatiest of meaty roasts- and that can mean only one thing- The “Bacon Meat Explosion“.

While you wait for this badboy to cook in the oven (or the BBQ if it’s nice enough) why not get some quality tunes on the soundsystem.

First up we have some heavy debstep in the shape of “Twin Tooth” by NZ artist Misshin.
Twin Tooth by Misshin

Mexican with Guns tune “Me Gusto” on Stonesthrow has been getting lots of air recently. Have a listen and download the free Ghosts On Tape remix here.
MEXICANS WITH GUNS feat. CHICO MANN- ME GUSTO (GHOSTS ON TAPE RMX) by Ghosts On Tape

Next up is a cracking wee slice of tech house goodness in the shape of Silicone Soul’s remix of “Skin Clock’ from The Black Dog album – “Further Vexations”. Now available as part of “The Vexing Remixes EP” – out now on Soma.

The Black Dog – Skin Clock (Silicone Soul rmx)