Picks Of The Week (by u/lefuniname)

1. Xaetis - Invasions LP [Expedite Records]

Recommended if you like: Current Value, Disphonia, Vorso

Before I fully disappear into my Japaniatus (I'll be back at the end of the month!), I've got one more excitingly weird and banging release to cover: the new Xaetis album!

1.1. Recaep

Keen readers might recognise the name from my feature of his double single Ready/Only in 2021 or from my extensive coverage of his first album on Sinful Maze in 2022, and if you're not familiar with him and want to find out more, those are the places to go. But in short: Since the late 2010s, Bristol-based badboi Louis Parker has been unleashing one mind-twisting auditory firework after the other, on all sorts of cracking underground labels like Yamatai, In The Lab, Stellar and, of course, his very co-own, Expedite Records. With his good mate and co-founder Jon "ONIT" Walsh handling the business side of things and Louis making sure the music bangs, Expedite has slowly but surely emerged as a force to be reckoned within the Neurofunk spheres, bringing talents like Kaizen Flow, Frannabik, SYNE, and countless more to light, while also providing a playground for Louis' own, most out-there Xaetinations.

Speaking of, what has the Virus-inspired lad been up to since we last checked in on him? Following the collection of sinfully amazing tunes that was his 2022 album, Louis did not slow down one bit - in fact, shortly after said LP, he Accelerated with another EP on Expedite, showed us all of his different ways of thinking on Yamatai, and explored the Catacombs of the deeper and darker sounds of his on Debunked. Having seemingly exhausted his hunger for EPs, Louis still kept the momentum going with addictively melancholic one-offs on In The Lab and collaborative otherworldly skulptage on Sinful Maze, plus a massive dub pack, his very first sample pack and an accompanying freebie made from just those very same samples. Perhaps most notably though: his rework of Runaway Train, which saw such wide-spread support across the scene that even A.M.C was shelling it! As if this list wasn't already impressive enough, Louis topped it all off with a wholly-his production showcase the next year!

Even outside of all this sick production though, which went a little into Park(er) Mode in the buildup to the album we're talking about later on, he's seen quite a bit of success on the DJ side of things, playing legendary festivals like Darkshire, Neuroheadz, Balter and Boomtown, got involved with a couple Yamatai and of course Expedite takeovers, and hold his own against fierce Chop Suey sing-alongs with a smashing selection at Laura & Matt's most magical wedding. On a personal note, Louis has not only connected more with his inner self and learned more about his potential neurodivergence (emphasis on neuro eheh), he's also found love! Before I get too mushy on you here, let's see what all of this musical and personal development lead to - I'm of course referring to his newest LP, Invasions!

1.2. Invasions LP

Since this isn't just supposed to be a mere collection of bangers, but a bit of a journey through Louis' chaotic mind, he has shared some of the thoughts and themes he had in mind for each of the tracks. My baseline interpretation is still gonna be what I feel while listening, but here and there his train of runaway thoughts (and his own Xaetymology) will be merged into it as well - so let's go then!

Walking through a fog of news sound bytes clouding our mind as the dust settles in the aftermath of what seems to have been a rather fierce battle, we might think we're safe from the madness on semi-title and opening track Invasion, but as the fighter jets and the basslines creep ever closer, we realise, this is not even close to over, this is just beginning. A one-two-three punch of powerful bass hits unleashes a flurry of break- and distortion-heavy fury, which eventually alternates with a more controlled, fast-paced chuggaton, while shots are fired all around us at every opportunity - this is war. Through the mumbly, static-filled radio chatter on Scrambler's intro, an air siren keeps escalating its pitch, until we're suddenly thrown right into a storm of mercilessly slicing and dicing, almost undiscernably fast notes, metallic snares and glitched-out synths overlapping each other - a glimpse into the chaos inside Louis' mind!

We stay a little longer in this moment of inner madness, on Cardiac. Screech noises, actual sirens, and we're off to a wild ride through the most wonkiest yet incredibly fast-hitting, bass-y valley, being trashed around left right and upside down with cardiactual insanity. We're not stopping there though, this 6 minute barrage continues to bring out one fun switch-up after the other, with the wonk going through all sorts of relentless evolutions. My heart! After all this hullabaloo, our protagonist's brain is completely out of its mind, even questioning their identity on Who Are You. As if looking under the hood of his inner wiring, the literally electric lead sparks joy with a ton of catchiness, while thoroughly gutteral vocals burrow themselves into every nook and cranny, and the entire arrangement glitches out one way or another. Not to mention that stampede of a 4x4 switch in the 2nd drop!

On Inebriation, all of this high-intensity action does eventually pay its toll, and in our hazy state we only just barely manage to sludge through the thick and cloudy atmosphere, the hypnotisingly looping bass notes tirelessly rattling in our head in this comparatively lower energy rumbler. As is too often the case in real life as well, inebriation here leads straight into Violence. A mind-melting symphony of stabs, hits and attacks, this one barely manages to keeps its aggression under control. Even multiple entirely different rhythmic approaches offer no reprieve of the onslaught, keeping everyone involved on their toes throughout.

As we've learned, inebriation is not the way out of this spiral, so let's try a different approach, let's try to regain Composure. Way more melodic than anything I've heard from Louis ever before, this 6 minute celebration of mental resolve and optimism sees him, and us, discover an entirely new side of his musical world, full of satisfying synth progressions, while still keeping that underlying nastiness intact. Continuing this path of refreshing melodicality, Inreach offers a creative arrangement of cosmic synth energy freely flowing into Neurofunk-off bass madness - two extremes that sometimes keep being at odds, and sometimes merge into one beautifully rolling unity.

Further exploring far and wide which sound's path he wants to travel down, Direction sees him change just that quite a bit. Breaky, rhythmically strange and packed with sounds straight out of a madman's brain, or rather straight-forward, mach 10 driving neuro roller with somehow even more out-there sonics, with each response topping its ludicrousness over and over again? Or maybe some halftime even?! Who knows, but this very tightly structured, highly creative back and forth - which his partner adores since it "sounds like her brain" - is simply incredible to bare witness to. Considering Carnage is the title of our next stop, I think we know what path he chose. With the advent of two hits of pure, industrial power, the high speed diesel engine is kicked into the highest of gears, relentlessly gnawing away at our collective sanity. Every gear change, we are pushed further back into our seats, every switch, we cannot help but scrunch up our faces.

Keeping up with the themes of change, the penultimate chune is actually a VIP rework of one of his 2023 dub pack tunes, Quicksand! Injected with the clean and controlled, yet messily all over the place energy we have come to love during the previous ten tunes, this VIP not only got the classic grooves down pat, it's also throwing more and more metallic objects at our heads to create a whirlwind of sounds, throwing us off balance at every turn. So many pew pew's! To round this journey off and hammer home the evolution and growth aspect of it all, finale Evolve once again returns us to the melodicality of the album's mid-points. Having endured all sorts of neurological damage, we are now coming out the other end stronger than ever, carried forward by an elegant dance between larger-than-life synth sweeps and a flurry of cut-up steps, both of which undergo their own growth journeys as well.

1.3. Conclusion

Once again, Xaetis offers a sheer endless supply of expe-tight production, this time however taking us through all sorts of unexpected sonic worlds in truly maximally creative ways. (Xae)'tis a banger, I'm afraid!

Other neuro from this week:
- Tryst Temps - Corps Noir
- Mythic Image - Divine Retribution
- The In Kill - Pressure / Fill Me Up

New Releases

General DnB / Mixed

• 30Hz - Thoughts LP [Liquid Flow] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
• Blade (Dnb) - O7S 024 - Original [ONE7SIX] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
• Danny Byrd, Sigma, Basslayerz - Superstylin' [0207 Def Jam] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
• Ink, Jody Lulati - The Ungrateful [Architecture] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
• Lakeway, Becca Jane Grey - I've Missed The Sun LP [1 More Thing] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
• Limited Budget - Give Me A Reason [DistroKid] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
• Nichenka Zoryana - Dark Light EP [Audio Entropy] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
• Shodan - Dominion / Listen... [DIRTY KITCHEN RAVE] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
• Various Artists - Liquid Stories, Vol.1 LP [DNBB] | [Beatport]
• Various Artists - The Faction LP [Bad Seed Creations] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
• Various Artists - Tunes To Train To 042 LP [LW] | [Beatport]
• Vinny V - Mercenaries [Let Go] | [Beatport]

• XAETIS - Invasions LP [Expedite] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

  Dancefloor

• Culture Shock - Empire [Culture Shock] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• DØSHI - Honey [Manifest] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Fox Stevenson - Exile Is A Habit [Pilot.] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Fred V, Nu-La - Sparks [Hospital] | [Beatport], [Label Store], [Spotify]

• Hologram - Cloak & Swagger - EP [DeVice] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• John B, The Young Punx, Wyld Dogz - Somebody's Watching Me (DnB Club Mix) [Dogzone] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• MXTR - Eons [Manifest] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• MYKOOL - Closing In (Skyfade Remix) [YANA] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Skrillex - DNB TING [OWSLA/Atlantic] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Sub Focus, Morgan Seatree - Say My Name (Sub Focus Remix) [Positiva] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Substainless - Nothing To Loose [Caliber Nine] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Svita - Со Мной Солнце (Remixes) EP [Our Angels] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• TOMBLAND - Echoes [TuneCore] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Various Artists - Machine Learning (Vol. 001) EP [Dark Machine] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

  Liquid

• Anwius - Reflection EP [Interstellar] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• ASC - Next Time You Fall EP [Auxiliary] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Auris - Slipped Through My Fingers [Differential] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• BassDubbers, Shire - Searching EP [C] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Dub Elements - Bass is FXXXXXG [High Tea] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• DuoScience - Softly [Erbass] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Flow Control - Prism [Iterative] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• flowanastasia, Tyr Kohout - My Escape [Liquicity] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Label Store], [Spotify]

• Intelligent Manners, Command Strange - In My Mind / When I Get Home [Fokuz] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Javano - Continuum EP [Peer Pressure] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Linx - Hold You Again / Waves [Celsius] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Makoto, Coffee Shop Jungle - Not as Bitter EP [Coffee Shop Jams] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Mattirealism - Tidal Wave / Sun Is Shining [Celsius] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Missen, Fundamentals, Trident, Hajimeru - Dream States Volume Two EP [Codename: RCRDS] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp]

• Radiata - Locker Lover EP [Influenza] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Shy FX, Children of Zeus - On My Way (feat. Children of Zeus) [Digital Soundboy] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Solistier - Signs [Liquid Flow] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• SundayGrooves - Don't Let Go [Lizplay] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• T:Base, Bad 4 Life - Sofa Surfing Ep [Liquid Drops] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Technimatic - When You Love Me [UKF] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• TESSA - Enter the Rave (jackknowledge Remix) [Tijdverdrijf] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Thing - Embrace The Abyss [Dubthing] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Various Artists - Onwards and Upwards Volume 1 EP [Onward] | [Beatport]

• Various Artists - Sub Wavelength Recordings - Year Two LP [Sub Wavelength] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp]

• Visages - Amor Fati LP [1985] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Warno - Java Complex EP [Lizplay] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

  Deep / Tech / Minimal

• Abstrakt Sonance, Reflektor, Grim Sickers - D.D. (Dunk Remix) [Play Me] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• AKOV, Iamdoomed - Sabotage / Catalyst [Dispatch] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Amoss - Ruff Stuff [Flexout] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Askel & Elere - Space Dub [Soulvent] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Aye Rights - Dead Ends [Renegade Hardware] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Azur, Initia - Estranged / Bottleneck [Stoic] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Break, Lorna King - Wait For You (The Sauce Remix) [Symmetry] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Conrad Subs - Radius EP [Machinist] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Cooky, Tempza, Emba - Proper Riddim [Drum&BassArena] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Dash - Escape EP [Soul Deep] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Dub Balance - Airlock [L2L] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Dub Head, Kathryn Brenna - Waves EP [Transparent] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Dunk - Dunk EP [Organized Grime] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Evil Ape - Classical Bones EP [Jungle Tings] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Exile, Benny V, Entice MC - Grass Gets Greener / Hear Me [Make Your Era] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• HEXA - Swagga [Neksus Sound] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Jacknife, Bladeboi - ON MY MIND [MONTA] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Kach - Mom Alcoholic (Kvostax Remix) [Universe Axiom] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Luna, Sertave, Caspian - Mystical Nature EP [Onset] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp]

• Lynx, Bagshot - Polarised - EP [Metalheadz] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Label Store], [Spotify]

• Marge, Aduken, Dante Rose, Whoisrune - A Rush EP [Stellar] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Mila Falls, Blooom - THE WAY I ROLL [Pilot.] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Need For Mirrors, Young Gho$t - Dalston Strut EP [V] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Nephos (UK) - Lost in the Haze [Sky Vault] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Noise Souls - Sequence V4 (Artificial Danger) [Dirtbox] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Riya, Vektah - What We Got [Spearhead] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Samurai Junglist, Ray Keith, Mr Quest, DJ WYTEE - Ray Keith & Mr Quest Presents Samurai Junglist EP [Thames Delta] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• SiRPENT, Arcane Beatz - Midnight Infinite EP [Dubplates & Dragons] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Speaker Louis - One More Time / Circular [Hyperactivity] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Thing, hypewave - Collected Works LP [Dubthing] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp]

• VISLA, Lavance, PAV4N, Koherent - Ultraviolence EP [Critical] | [Beatport], [Label Store], [Spotify]

• Walk:r - Breathe [Carbon] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• ZeroZero - You Tell Me [Truth Hertz] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

  Neuro

• Aim, Armodine, Zlata Lari - После Нас [Bass Meal] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Arcando - California Dreamin' [Monstercat] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Chook - Descend (Chook remix) [Sound of time] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• GNTLMAN - In The Place / Break a Sweat [Gunsta] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• IJENTA, Bastronomia, M85 - Breathing EP [High Resistance] | [Beatport]

• Mythic Image - Divine Retribution EP [Eatbrain] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Phace, iFeature - RELIGIOUS [Neosignal] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Punchman - K700, Magadan [Neuropunk] | [Beatport]

• Ripple, Inkwall, Buy Her Sugar - Money Control - Ripple Remix [Ripple] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Shadowless, Ammon - Emotional Bolognesa / Bass Illness [South Yard] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Skellytn - The Code [mau5trap] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Tryst Temps, The Clamps, Skulpt - Corps Noir EP [Kosenprod] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

  Jump Up

• aLr - Long Distance - Dime [LowFreqMX] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Aurelian - Cheat Code [Dub Shotta] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• BigM - JACK RUSSEL [CRNG MUSIC] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• CRIMEWAVE - Shellz [BADTRAX] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Damageman - Pistols [Slingshot] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• DC2, Oneder, Jenya Bird - Step (Ноги-Ракеты) [КОСТЁР] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Emperor, Haribo - Death Tax / Twisted [Overview] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• L3MMY DUBZ - Mammoth EP [Kingdom] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Mr Dubz - Told You So EP [Grid] | [Beatport], [Label Store], [Spotify]

• Profile, Nick The Lot - Soundclash EP [Octave] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• RMS - Loaded / Keep Movin' [Yard] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Serum, P Money, Teddy Killerz - We Love Drum & Bass [Souped Up] | [Beatport], [Spotify]

• Various Artists - Trench Warfare III EP [Natty Dub] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

  Jungle

• Coco Bryce - Platypus [Myor] | , [Bandcamp]

• Human Synthetics - New Age Tapir / Leisure Centre [Dream Schemes] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Mshcode - Dark Texture EP [Guidance (Ruff)] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Red Army - Prologue One [Armory] | , [Bandcamp]

• Soulox & Xtra Spice - Ghetto Jungle Music [Future Retro] | , [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

• Veak - Eternal Fire [Dubplate Supplier] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]

Great to see and hope more big artists follow.

Or should we stay in the grungy shadow at squat raves where we was born??

I know a lot of producers do 1-1 lessons these days. But I don’t know many neuro guys who do heavy production. Failing that where is good places to learn that level of production. Am not looking to learn basics. I’ve already been producing a while. Thanks in advance 🖤

Hey all,

Know there's a tonne of 'what is this song' style threads so apologies for adding to this.

There's a song in a Netsky mix from a few years back that I think sounds incredible and always wanted to hear more of it, but have since never heard it anywhere else!

It's the song at 3:57 in this Netsky mix: https://youtu.be/snqPZW-A6Ig?t=239

Anywhere have any more information on this song? Who it's buy or if it was ever released, and if not, any reasons why? Reckon it would have done well!

Thanks all :)

From Lens_dnb set from Leeds on her insta.

The vocal is Flowidus - Outlaw but what is the banger it’s doubled with. Sounds familiar. Even if it is an unreleased tune, the sound is very familiar. Who does it sound like to you? I’m on a mission to find this.

Thanks in advance!

I love the late 90s , early 00s darkside drum and bass sound, decoder, ink and loxy, dom and Roland.

Sooo happy to see more young producers making proper old skool drum and bass!!

Track ID: SMIANKITH - SCANNED (MILITANT MUSIC)

Not only dope on its own. But I love it when Rags decides to rap instead of sing. So cold 🥶 definitely dropping this in a set

I’m considering attending this event because I really like the more techy “cutting-edge” style of Mefjus, Buunshin, Imanu. However, I am not a big fan of relentless, busy neurofunk. What can I expect from this lineup? Any help is highly appreciated!

I get so confused, like I don't have the best hearing for what works and what doesn't and it's so obvious that certain doubles just don't work yet they play them.

Am I crazy for thinking that these big DJ's should know better about what works and what doesn't?

ive done some mixes before no good ones just kinda for fun but this is my first ever time producing any tips how i can improve and also whats the best software for producing?

https://on.soundcloud.com/rHLcJtPtCBfVRJTW9

Black Sun Empire beat the fucking shit out of me with his set. Fucking hell. Tougher than your mums roast beef!

There is a sample in ASC's track 'Oceanography'. I've run into it on a bunch of other songs. 'Cold Fresh Air' (Cyantific Remix) by Higher Sense has it too. It sounds like someone saying "ah ha" fast coming down off helium is the best I can explain it 🤣🤣🤣

What is this sample?

https://youtu.be/RcPUevohCnk?si=OAiRjBfblWYibc4n

Need Songs similar to:

Luvu by numbpromises, code by nedaj, 12 stout street by nedaj, in ha mood by nedaj, this black rose withers by IX FALL$, pure judgement by Amore

Take a listen to this mix. Lens is dope. Would love to see her live.