Bringing new and familiar faces to the table, Cerebrum Vol. I showcases artists such as Oolacile, BVSSIC and Vayre, all artists who have released full length projects on the label. New to Halcyon, though, include Inspected-regular Vorso, active electronic music community member Mr. Bill and newcomer lalanoi, among others. Additional contributors include Focus Five features phonon, Trinist and Alydian and FUXWITHIT favourite, Saka. Comprised of nine mind-melting tracks ranging from drum and bass to glitch hop, Cerebrum Vol. I brings a stacked lineup with top-tier tracks from start to finish.

Opening up the compilation in epic fashion, Oolacile, phonon and Mr. Bill join forces to create a tumultuous journey in ‘Exodus,’ as the piece meshes each artist’s style to perfection. BVSSIC and Staysick follow with the brute that is ‘Supervision,’ showcasing a keen attention to detail, core-shattering bass and a pristine balance of highs and lows. Wasting no time, Vorso comes next in a masterclass of sound design in the wicked ‘Honx,’ which may or may not be a follow-up to his recent beast boasting a similar name. Saka keeps the energy alive with a halftime heater that contends for one of his best tunes to date, with ‘Souffle’ flexing an swagger-filled flow and an oddly satisfying groove throughout. ‘Recondite’ follows, as Trinist unleashes a barrage of relentless bass in his 170 BPM neurofunk belter that further builds on his ever-impressive signature sound.

Coming off his Spectramorph EP from earlier this year, Vayre shares a display of colourful melodies and rugged basslines with the next contribution to the well-rounded compilation. Then, Alydian evokes raw emotions with ‘Kurota,’ demonstrating his incredible ability to use contorted vocals, deep basses and rhythmic percussion to induce the deepest chills within your spine. Staysys and lalanoi close out the compilation with ‘Bovel & Buwar’ and ‘luminous flux,’ respectively, with both producers embodying the essence of innovation in their tracks.

It’s difficult to do such an impressive compilation justice with words, so we highly recommend multiple listens from front to back – you won’t regret it. Don’t miss Cerebrum Vol. I below.

The post Halcyon x NEO4IC Unveil Mesmerizing ‘Cerebrum Vol. I’ Compilation appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

Cerdin

First setting off my radar in late September, killer Calgarian producer Cerdin kicked the door down with the ferocity of ‘FRACTURE.’ Its undeniable intensity and ominous energy give it the feeling of a high-stakes shootout. Almost unhinged in its radioactive rollout, Cerdin doesn’t let the track stagnate; instead, he fires off a flurry of effects while sending ‘FRACTURE’ flying off in all directions. More recently, we’ve seen an explosion of releases as he tackled the likes of A.G. Cook, Baauer, and Clipping in his second remix package. While distinct in their styles, each one of these free offerings slaps. Whether hyperactive like ‘Show Me What,’ a wall of sound like ‘AETHER,’ or slow and sadistic like ‘96 Neve Campbell,’ Cerdin crafts the perfect punch for each track. Now, for my money, Cerdin’s hardest hitters come in ‘Lemonade,’ ‘3030!‘ and ‘OLD SCHOOL.’ Hop on his hardcore bandwagon and brace yourself for a bumpy ride!
-OJ

Drvmmer

Now that I think about it, it’s almost a year since I met Andrea aka Drvmmer for the first time. If I’m not wrong, it was during the only gig I attended in 2020 alongside Patrick, msft., Voliik, Marlus, GAZZ, Degra and many others. Ah, the nostalgia. Anyway, I waited so long to give him a spotlight not because I wanted to spite him but because I preferred to follow a rational approach. You see, sometimes here on Focus Five I like to follow my instincts and make bets, but I know that I’m not flawless. For this first episode of the year instead, I wanted to give you a guarantee and now I can assure you that waging on this artist is not a risky business. Drvmmer is an assurance.  It’s not subject to volatility and inflation. His production level leaves no doubt, it is first class. Even though he usually creates highly complex sonic textures, the outcome is always absurdly clean. It doesn’t matter how many genres it changes within a single song or how much the sound pressure is: the outcome will always be a treat for your ears. Dubstep, electronica, drum&bass his SoundCloud profile says loud and clear “fuck genres”. Want concrete proof? Just listen to his latest remix of Jack U’s classic ‘Mind’ and thank me later. From what I know, he’s sitting on an insane amount of music and, even if he’s going to release just a small share of it, I’m sure you’ll see him again on the pages of FUXWITHIT in 2021.
-AA

Knick

It may be a new year but I’m keeping my streak of championing future beats alive in 2021. One of the latest producers to catch my ear within the space is North Carolina’s Knick. It was Knick’s collaboration ‘distantworlds’ off of cozy kev’s complacency that first caught my attention. The track is a majestic work of art – heavenly, vibey and packing just the right amount of bump. A dive into Knick’s SoundCloud shows this is no fluke. He just dropped a next-level collab with $teev, koru & ohgoddc entitled ‘elevate’. Living up to its name, the song will take you to a higher plane of existence. It will allow you to feel lighter, unburdened, and lost in the bounce. While the collabs are amazing, Knick can definitely stand alone on his own. ‘circumvent’ is absolutely stunning while ‘aluminum’ shows off a more relentless approach. For the future beats fanatics such myself, Knick is undeniably one to watch.
-C

spüke

The last year has been everything but easy for everyone. Given the challenges, we could all use a little uplifting. Enter: spüke. The California producer is crafting energizing and futuristic house tunes to give listeners new life. ‘Emanate’ which was released on Bonsai’s Hayashi compilation was a staple in my summer rotation. Moving vocals, wildly bouncy drops, and a playful candor made it a certified warm weather bop. Keeping the heat up came the gripping and emotive ‘tell me’ which carries a truly uplifting energy. Risking it all with a remix of a classic, spüke delivered with an addictive flip of Flux Pavillion’s ‘I Can’t Stop.’ Taking on a iconic anthem is no easy feat but the talented producer delivered in full. If you’re looking for a fresh spin on house check out spüke.
-C

Trinist

Unfortunately, I can’t take the credit for this one, but I feel like this month’s list would be incomplete without the inclusion of Trinist. Landing on my radar just a couple of weeks ago thanks to his pristine release on Powered by Inspected: Series 2, I knew I had to jump aboard the Trinist train before the bandwagon left the station. With less than 400 SoundCloud followers at the time of writing, the Netherlands-based producer has shown immense promise with his latest releases on Inspected, VALE, and Andy C’s RAM Records. The former, which was my introduction to this talented artist, is a mind-melting drum and bass cut that’s abrasive yet bouncy, and chaotic yet controlled. A deeper dive into Trinist’s brief arsenal shows more of this meticulous attention to detail, with carefully crafted sounds and mechanical percussion precision being a recurring theme in his latest tracks. I’m keeping a close eye on Trinist, you should too.
-SC

Words by Alessio, Colin, Oggie & Steph

The post Focus Five: Volume 36 appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

The ensemble is kicked off in wicked fashion with Netherlands-based Trinist delivering a crisp drum and bass cut that’s equally gritty as it is playful. The four-minute ‘Transmute’ is fast-paced, relentless and abrasive, but in the best way possible, setting the bar high for the tracks that follow. Fellow Dutchmen not yes come next with the brief but smooth halftime bop titled ‘Don’t Do Math,’ where the duo provide a welcome change of pace after the opener. badtwin follow with a neurofunk beast of their own, swaying between brutal, core-shattering bass and lighter, more melodic notes in ‘Airy’ to concoct a well-rounded tune that is quintessential Inspected material. Then, FUXWITHIT favourite Saka showcases one of his most impressive tracks to date in ‘Stasis,’ keeping his signature halftime sound intact and pairing rugged synths with sinister melodies to a tee. Finally, Ankou caps off the impressive compilation with ‘Inertia,’ a looming, robotic brute that fits perfectly into the bass-riddled collection.

Powered By Inspected: Series 2 is yet another reminder of Inspected’s ability to curate boundary-pushing content. Don’t miss the sophomore compilation below.

The post Dive Into Five Bass-Riddled Beasts In ‘Powered By Inspected: Series 2’ appeared first on FUXWITHIT.