This one's been on dubplate for ages now, if you've been to see an
international in the last couple of months you'll have heard it. Instantly
recognisable by the filtered vocal buildup and smooth synth work, J. Majik
delivers another solid tune to his already strong repertoire. The flip is
the real business though, a Dillinja mix which lowers the vox and fuses
punishing bass to the break to make a dancefloor killer. Massive!

Deadline/Fix up
Digital (31 Records)
21/4/2001

Digital started his current run of wicked tracks with this soundbomb delivered
on Doc Scott's record label. A simple bongo break takes you up to the drop,
where mad ascending acid rave stabs take over. When the break drops back in, it tears the place apart. Simple and very effective.

the lizard/matchbox
j majik (Infrared)
21/4/2001

J. Majik's take on the Tramen (Trace's amen, used most famously on Bad
Company's "Nitrous") kicks off with an innocuous break, ragga samples and
an ascending hardcore line taking you up to the break, where the bass and the
amen drop. Despite being a crazy hard-out growler of a tune it still retains J.
Majik's phased production feel. Check it.

DNA EP
Shapeshifter
21/4/2001

Occupying a similar niche to Concorde Dawn (whose unreleased track Cloud City has been doing the business up at Active Towers) Shapeshifter are a live NZ drum'n'bass group (meaning pre-recorded loops and samples are sequenced via computer live). It is a different discipline from DJing, in some ways being closer to the work of people like Pitch Black, and this is reflected in the recorded material, which does not strictly obey drum'n'bass conventions. Tracks build rather than drop, some softer drum sounds are used, and there is more space around the tune. That said, some of the material presented here
(including the artwork- how Ram is that?) have contemporary influences, mostly
of the tech variety. Of the 5 tracks, the Pylonz remix of "DNA", and "Boneheads" stand out. Pylonz' version of DNA was used on the Active ad, the intro is all brooding echos which are then supported by an unorthodox amen. Boneheads kicks off like Moving Fusion meets Kraftwerk, just slightly disappointing due to the lack of a monster drop. This is a solid first release which reveals a promising sound.