Now. I won’t say the phrase. Nor will I dust off the infamous hashtag (you know the one). I’m just being objective. The ball is rolling (pun intended) and this gives me a chance to throw myself into the fray with something that flirts with both culture and SEO. This month I bring back Bootleg Business with a massive drum&bass pack of 30 (unofficial) remixes that showcase pretty much everything the genre has to offer. Forget obscure cuts or hyper-sophisticated intellectual material though, this collection is strictly party-friendly. We have jump-up bangers, mainstage classic reworks, liquid rollers, ten-year-old remixes, ten-day-old remixes, weird bootlegs, and cheesy edits of pop songs. This Bootleg Business volume has it all.  Rumble remix included.

Friendly reminder that this list doesn’t pretend to showcase the finest bootlegs around, nor the rarest. Music can be (just) fun, remember?  This is an opportunity to have fun celebrating the art of unofficial remixes and, why not, a chance to find some new goodies to spice up your tracklists ahead of the festival season.  As in the case of my summer special, the playlist is loosely divided into two parts. It starts with the heaviest cuts and it progresses into the more melodic tracks.

Have fun!

The post Bootleg Business – Vol. 7 – Extended D&B Special appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

This is what I wrote exactly two years ago about Tom Finster and today, more than ever, I stand behind each one of these words. The past two years of the German producer have been studded with some superb releases (his legendary ‘No Tomorrow‘ remix, ‘Convoy’, ‘Lights‘) but little did I know that behind the curtain something bigger was taking shape. Two years in the making, Tom’s brand new album, Years Of I, came out in all its glory the past week, wiping out all my doubts and shattering all my predictions. I candidly admit that at first, I was not too thrilled with the news that the project was going to feature his own vocals. Most of the transitions from producer to producer and singer that I have witnessed in recent years have not been exciting.  Moreover, after the release of ‘Bleep’ (now one of my favourite songs of the entire year), I was also concerned about a possible pop/indie turn of his sound, following the new songwriting approach.

Now, with the entire album available at once, I can say that all my doubts have been dispelled. I still believe most vocal performances aren’t compelling on their own, but fully aware of his capabilities, Tom Finster has found the right balance without overdoing. Even when, for example in ‘Little Circle’, he tries a more rap approach, a style I don’t see fitting his voice very well at the moment, the result it’s extremely personal and “handmade.” A mood that fits perfectly, given that the LP is an introspective look at what he has achieved so far as an artist. In many cases, listening to Tom singing gives a feeling of intimacy, as if he was opening up to the listener, confessing his deepest thoughts, through a voice message in the middle of the night.

On a production level, there is little room for criticism, as the quality is immaculate throughout the whole Years Of I. If I had any reservations about the vocals, I never had any skepticism about the instrumentals. Even before this album, his intricate and crystalline take on drum&bass enjoyed an indisputable reputation. Like a blacksmith forging countless different tools from the same fused steel, in Years Of I Tom Finster bends instruments, notes, synths, and frequencies of any kind to his will, molding them with mastery and creating a plethora of exceptional soundscapes. There’re silky and lo-fi cuts such as ‘Stuck On Repeat’, ‘Nothing,’ ‘Bleep’ but also piercing, cinematic bangers such as the opening combo ‘Second Time Around’, ‘Will To Power’, or the closing track ‘Night On Earth’. It’s a mesmeric journey through Tom Finster’s legacy as an all-around artist.

An aspect further emphasized in the promotional campaign launched by Tom and the DIVIDID team.  The music videos for ‘Bleep’ and ‘Night On Earth‘ have helped tremendously to set the tone for the album and have made the Years Of I experience much more immersive. Those Instagram videos of Tom (who clearly isn’t a natural-born showman) talking genuinely thrilled about the project, made me deeply empathize with him and his efforts, turning the storytelling around Years Of I is a very human affair, not just a fan-artist business. Last but not least, I cannot fail to mention the boxset (already sold out) created in an extremely limited edition of 100 copies, containing among other things, a sixty-eight-page book designed by Tom, which takes you through his beautiful journey in making the album, along with photos and lyrics.

Years Of I is available now on your favorite platform.

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The post Tom Finster Outdoes Himself With New Album ‘Year Of I’ appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

Perhaps that change will come as a result of his first single of the year, ‘Lights.’ Without undermining the quality of tracks that the German creative has shared with us in the past, ‘Lights’ might be his best work to date. A brooding soundscape that hints at the madness that follows introduces the piece, with Tom Finster taking his time to up the energy to really churn at the uneasiness of the sinister sounds. As vocals and percussion are added into the mix, listeners quickly come to realize that the artist has been brewing something inhuman, before the true insanity takes over. Fast-paced, core-shattering drum and bass shines bright in the second minute of the track, as Tom Finster flexes his usual crisp sound design and meticulous attention to detail. However, it’s the second half of the track that makes ‘Lights’ truly remarkable. Flipping the script by halving the tempo, Tom Finster goes for a slower second drop that packs just as strong of a punch balancing vocal cuts and gnarly basses to a tee, making ‘Lights’ an extremely well-rounded piece.

Don’t miss it below.

The post Tom Finster Unleashes High-Octane Single, ‘Lights’ appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

Being a huge fan of both the artists, the label and the original tune itself, the hype surrounding this release for me was real, palpable. I can’t imagine what pressure Tom Finster must have gone through as he approached this herculean task. I think there are just two options. Either his self-control is on a superhuman level, or he’s spent countless sleepless nights working on his remix because his interpretation of ‘No Tomorrow’ is incredible.

While the original was instant classic, to say the least, this rework is ​​also ready to make history and set a new standard for this art. The epic and poignant atmospheres of ‘No Tomorrow’ are subtly distorted and manipulated by the creative genius of the German producer, who instead of overturning the original concept, has masterfully contaminated it with his own vision. Trust me when I tell you that Tom Finster has gone in full mad hatter mode and has set up for us a mad waltz through tripped-out halftime and full-blown drum & bass destruction. Describing these five minutes of pure electronic poetry second by second would be an extraordinary as well as exhausting experience, that’s why I prefer to let the music speak for itself.

Stream Tom Finster’s remix of ‘No Tomorrow’ below or on your favorite platform here.

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The post Tom Finster Shows Off His Creative Genius In ‘No Tomorrow’ Remix appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

Alexander Panos

Alexander Panos may seem like a strange pick for Focus Five, as the last thing he has posted on SoundCloud dates back to May 2019. However, the wickedly talent artist recently re-appeared on my radar with a nostalgic and fun remix for Skrillex’s ‘Turmoil’ alongside the equally talented Hudson Lee. This remix assured me that Alexander Panos has not disappeared for good, and that his SoundCloud biography stating “debut album in progess” must have some truth to it. Despite not having a very extensive catalog, there’s no denying that a single listen through the Chicago-based artist’s music is equivalent to a journey to a distant universe. The combination of beauty and bass contained with his music is unmatched, evident in opuses such as ‘Cycles’ and ‘Dream Recall’ with Frequent. His shorter experimental pieces such as ‘Going Down’ display an unparalleled sound design mastery, again pointing at the extensive skill set that the artist possesses. Here’s to hoping for more Alexander Panos material in the near future.
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Filthsun.

As an architect of chaotic good and master of low frequencies, Filthsun. has been dropping too much gas for us to ignore. Hailing from Portland, Oregon and a true embodiment of his name, this eclectic bass music producer is swinging far above his weight class. ‘THE WHISTLER’ and my personal favorite, ‘i feel funny’ are absolute bodies of tunes that sound systems don’t deserve without proper sacrifice. His most recent track ‘Rest And Relaxation’ brightly celebrates his much deserved milestone of crossing the 2k follower mark with a swanky surprise at the end. The self-proclaimed “man w/ eyes” has a varying style that’s glued to the underground, and we’re keen to see what’s in store from this forward thinking artist.
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reform.

It truly wouldn’t be an installment of Focus Five if I wasn’t shining the light on at least one future beat producer. The genre has become a personal favourite and the pool of talent seems to deepen with each passing month. The latest artist to catch my ear in the space is reform. His new release ‘hideawayy’ is all you need to become a fan. Fusing shimmering melodies, soulful vocal bends, knocking 808s and an abundance of bounce makes this one too good to miss. Taking it beyond the typical banger are the stunning breaks; fusing lush soundscapes and DnB drums to provide a deep and moving calm that perfectly contrasts the animated drops. With tracks like ‘hey boo,’ ‘this one’s for you’ and ‘amanacer w/ théos’ bringing the same calibre of quality, reform. is 4 for 4. We’ll eagerly be awaiting what’s to follow.
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Rusha & Blizza

India’s trap and bass scene is continually developing and Rusha & Blizza are the newest hot export. The New Delhi based duo recently unveiled their impeccable Mudra EP. The tracks fuse classic Indian samples and sounds with an undeniable banging trap aesthetic. ‘Kaka’ perfectly embodies the sound of the EP. It’s energetic, exotic and pounding. If you’re looking for something a bit more industrial and agressive be sure to check out tracks like ‘Stromy’ and ‘This Bottom,’ off their SOPHIE-leaning Gloss EP. With a wide palette of sounds at their disposal, we don’t know what to expect next, but we know it will be heat.
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Tom Finster

After Millbrook, this month I’m backing once again the #DNB2020 trend by bringing Tom Finster to your kind attention. Hailing from Germany and part of the amazing and immensely talented UPSCALE family, we’ve already briefly encountered him earlier this year as part of the latest Inspected album. The first word I’d use to define Tom’s music is sophisticated. The second one would be captivating. The third, sensational. He’s an artist that easily bends the Drum&Bass etiquette to his creative genius and always manages to deliver unique and astonishing creations. His latest EP From Here On Blind crowns years of refined productions and marks, in my humble opinion, the highest point of his repertoire, which by the way has already been already supported by tastemakers such as Mixmag and Skankandbass. The only negative side of the story? Too little music lovers are blessed by his music. Have a taste of his Drum & Bass delights below and don’t forget to spread the word!
-AA

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Words by Alessio, Colin, Jeremy & Steph

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Lucky data:base subscribers have already gotten their hands on the sixteen-track journey that is Powered by Inspected #3, but since the tracks are slowly appearing on SoundCloud, we figured we’d highlight these early and get you prepared for what’s to come. Netherlands-based Buunshin led the way in high gear early last week with the menacing ‘Trauma’ that is equally sinister as it is mesmerizing. The attention to detail throughout the neurofunk monster is unparalleled, and kicks off the compilation in style.

Similarly awe-inducing but in a completely different way, Hudson Lee and Tom Finster provide an expedition through bass music with their contribution to the collection of tracks. ‘Flymmer’ draws on the beauty of melody and simplicity in the opening moments to lure you in, before blurring the lines between genres as the track progresses. Both musical and gritty, the pair of producers have crafted a grandiose, ethereal piece that exquisitely contrasts the opening single.

Enigmatic bass aficionado Protial followed with a track that is quintessential to his style. ‘All Caps’ is quick to the punch, featuring everything that we love about his inimitable signature sound. Repeated vocal samples, mind-bending synths and crisp percussion all arranged in a hypnotizing manner provide Protial’s welcome introduction to Inspected.

The last piece released at the beginning of last week was Monuman‘s ‘Hurts When I’m With You,’ sampling the popular ‘I Wanna Be Down’ by Brandy in a rather unusual way. A slow yet ominous bass ballad, ‘Hurts When I’m With You’ builds gradually in a soul-stirring fashion, before the vocal samples are juggled in the latter half to give listeners a sense of familiarity all while remaining mysterious and captivating.

With Vellum curing your Monday blues with the unique, highly-anticipated bass house belter titled ‘Bungle‘ and the promise of more from Chee, COPYCATT, and RefraQ among others, fans are in for a real treat. If the range and versatility in these early singles are any indication, Powered by Inspected #3 is an early contender for compilation of the year. Stay tuned for more soon.

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