That is alot?!

So you may have noticed that Burnt Waffles has gone a little quiet lately. Well as we wait for the last few big albums of 2008 to drop and put the finishing touches on our best of's I thought I would point you too a few albums that have been locked in my pod.

Whenever other genres are feeling a little limp I find a trip to the deeper, heavier end of the spectrum is in order. The new Chase and Status album that dropped recently has filled that need quite nicely. Entitled More than Alot it lives up to its title with a buffet of different, dare I use marketing speak, urban sounds. While many of the bigger singles have been kicking around for a while and are made for losing your shit too at 3am such as Smash TV, Pieces and the massive Hurt You it is the dub step inspired Running which I find sticking in my head day after day. Enjoy the cheeky contrast of rattling bassline and soulful hook below.

Chase and Status - Running

Myspace

Moving to the deeper sound, specifically that of Cambridge, England. Hospital has recently release the third volume of their acclaimed Future Sounds of Cambridge compilation and it is smacking. Its filled with productions by drum and bass heavyweights Commix, Nu:tone and Logistics and even sports a number of collaborative tracks to sweeten the deal. Standouts include Cosmonaut and Intervention by comparative new comer Logistics and the collab track Ghost Snare. Ghost Snare can be found below, all clicks and deep grooves. For those who like to enjoy the subtlety of the jungle genre.

Commix, Logistics and Nu:tone - Ghost Snare

Hospital Homepage

Gully

They say good things come in three's. Looking at the recent drum and bass LP releases I would say 'they' were about right.


Firstly from the always reliable Hospital Records stable (home of High Contrast, Logistics and many more) comes a debut ten years in the making from Danny Byrd. Titled Super Sized its full of his trademark liquid sound. It also contains a number of curve balls in including the electro tinged Weird Science (below) and the old skool jungle vibes of Shock Out

Danny Byrd - Weird Science

Myspace | Website


D-Bridge was once a member of the acclaimed but now defunct Bad Company. He has now branched off and has been producing for the past few years, releasing singles on various label including his own Exit Recordings. This week sees the release of his first long player, The Gemini Principal. Deep and dark in sections D-Bridge layers his sounds and adds touches of soul to creating atmospheric drum and bass. The haunting Creatures of Habit (below) is a perfect example of this sound.

D-Bridge - Creatures of Habit

Myspace | Purchase


Rounding out the releases is the lastest LP from the revered Irish producer Calibre. His latest double disc LP is titled Overflow. It retains all his influences of dub and regge and adds a number of new ones, notably a tougher sound on a number of tracks. Calibre also his own vocals for the first time and the gamble pays off adding a personal touch to his lyrics. Textured, warm drum and bass for the soul. Check the key driven Always Lovin You below.

Calibre - Always Lovin You

Myspace | Wiki

Even if you dont feel that 178bpm vibe normally I would urge you too check this stuff out. Musically drum and bass is on fire at the moment.

Something (fucking) Good

With Good Vibrations in Sydney imminent there is one DJ I am looking forward too above all others, High Contrast aka Lincoln Barrett - and its all because of his latest Utah Saints remix (found below).

While he has already blown me away with three amazing albums and countless other cross genre remixes, there is just something about the combination of early 90's rave nostalgia and Barrett's sense of the euphoric that makes me grin like a fool as those cheesy synths kick in. Enjoy.

Utah Saints - Something Good (High Contrast Remix)

Website | Myspace

Eat Your Pudding

Hospital Records has been synonymous with liquid funk for over 10 years now and with good reason. The label boasts some of the hottest talent in the game (think High Contrast, Logistics and Nu:Tone), puts on a massive club night and their records are played all over the world from 'Cardiff to Cape Town'.

However, what really sets them apart is their award-winning Podcast and their ability to unearth shockingly good talent seemingly week in week out. These demos are played in special "Democast" versions of the show or whenever the flavour is too hot to suppress; which i may add, is pretty fucken often.

Mistabishi is one artist who's rise to fame was via these channels. His smashing tune "No Matter What" was first heard on the podcast at the end of last year and went on to gain massive support and radio play from the likes of Zane Lowe and Annie Mac. He subsequently signed another 5 tracks to the label, including "She lied", which featured in the Essential Mix of the year, crafted by none other than partner in crime Lincoln Barrett, aka High Contrast. The track is a beautiful example of the array of sounds, melodies and switch-ups that can be brought to the genre and is one not to be missed. So listen to it. Now.

Mistabishi - No Matter What - Hospital

Mistabishi Myspace

But wait, there's more.

Another man creating waves in the scene is none other than Donnie Dubson; a Dublin born German expat who's basslines and grooves have been known to move grown men to tears. His track "Lines To Draw" was heard on the very same episode as Mistabishi's slammer and it too received warm reviews. However it was "Rolling Home" which was released on the German label, Have-A-Break that really caught my ear. Simply put, this was one of the most beautiful recordings i heard all year. Talk about unsigned hype.

Donnie Dubson - Rolling Home - Have-A-Break

Donnie's Myspace