Links & Playlists
1. UNTIL DAWN - Oxygen [Automata Music]
Recommended if you like: Grafix, METHOD, Idle Days
Oh, Automata Music, again? Well, what else am I supposed to do when the up-and-coming Barcelona-based Bala-led imprint for dancefloor and any other melodic venture imaginable not only keeps finding new, exciting names to talk about, but also keeps bringing out the best in both them and their core roster? My hands are well and truly tied!
Today, the Spanish drum & bass inquisition brings forth a particularly wonderful name from the lands of the nether: UNTIL DAWN!
1.1. UNTIL DAWN (2021 - now)
It was a rainy day, a thicket of cloud further muting the already grayed-out mood of yet another covid lockdown in 2021. Or maybe it was sunny. I wasn't there, I'm just trying to paint a picture. On that one fateful, perhaps rainy, perhaps sunny, day, Joey Van de Zanden and Lars Van Jole, two Eindhoven-based blokes with nothing better to do, decided to do something better with their time, and founded UNTIL DAWN. Making use of the abundant fourth dimensional resources at all of our disposals at the time, they buckled down and slaved away at both DJing and production, with one clear goal: play at Liquicity Festival.
Shortly after experiencing their first public appearances as the duo, including their first-ever gig and the Polygon boys supporting their Coming Home / Starwalking mashup live on stage, they decided to enter Liquicity's DJ competition. Suddenly, they found themselves being a public vote winner. Suddenly, they found themselves actually having fulfilled their dream already, alongside Polymathic, Everest, and a certain Lennart. I wonder who that is.
So with the ball now decidedly rolling, Joey and Lars pounced on the opportunity to push it even further by participating in Control Room and XPNSV TASTE's remix competition for their tune 'Other Side', together with Curious Mind. Lo and behold, they won that one too! Following its official release on Red Ocean, they continued putting out collabroative bangerangers with Comet, Curious Mind, and METHOD via YosH Bass, High Tea, Adept, and, yes, even Liquicity - and I haven't even gotten past 2024 yet! Over 2025 and our still-ongoing year, they not only became regulars on the aforementioned Spanish newcomer factory Automata, they also worked with founder Bala, Xtinctor, and reoccurring characters Curious Mind and Comet, returned to Liquicity earlier this year, debuted on DeVice, and took to stages at ADE, in the UK, and, of course, Barcelona.
So let's see what the Herman Broos' newest creation sounds like, shall we?
1.2. Oxygen (2026)
Swiftly shivering ourselves into action, we open to a most wonderful vocal, striking some rather somber tones. As it opens up, however, the previously sparsely populated instrumental ascends just as we do, with the synth leads making itself known, rhythmic ticking going off in my left ear, and the good ol' cymbals preparing us for what's to come. The synth lead now in full force, we are treated to a festival melody to belt out at a certain summer festival, while the bassline dances its 8th note dance and the drums punch you up in all sorts of ways - before suddenly switching into another arrangement entirely! Having dropped both the melody and the chuggas, the drums are now the stage for the absolute filth the duo aimed to unleash onto us all this time. I can't lie, this bait-and-switch back-and-forth actually really got me the first time I listened, I had to actually rewind to make sure I heard that right! In its second half, UNTIL DAWN gives the vocal an even bigger spotlight, with a marvellous breakdown allowing the looong notes to really echo out far beyond and a second drop that's not just delayed once, but twice, only letting the drums out to play when that switch hits.
1.3. Conclusion
(V)Anthemic, Zanderously heavyweight, all around Until Dawesome.
2. Unspoil - Exoskeleton EP 💎 [Badkill Records]
Recommended if you like: A.way, The Caracal Project, Current Value
Next, the debut release by someone I know next to nothing about. It's Hidden Gem Of The Week™️ time!
2.1. Unspoil
Every now and then, I tune into Tom Finster's bi-weekly demo feedback stream on twitch. Both because it's always a nice, chill hang and because the WeAreHumans community is, like, stupidly talented. Genuinely stars in the making, the lot of them. So a couple weeks ago, I tune in to see what unreal stuff these production nerds have conjured up this time and among the usual suspects there's one I don't recognise: Unspoil. I like and comment the remix he sent in and follow the guy on SoundCloud - he doesn't have any other social pages from what I can tell.
Fast-forward to last Friday. I go through my release radar and all the other usual pages, but this time I decide to also use that new-fangled "Discover new artists" filter that Spotify has added to the radar a couple weeks back. Who do I see there? Unspoil! He just dropped a whole new EP, just like that! As I become a bigger fan by each passing minute, I decide to do like Digger would do and start digging.
Philipp Streitberger is the man behind it. He has participated in various producer battles hosted by INBLOOM. In one of the tournaments he's made it to the round of 16, in the others, namely Anything But EDM and BokNero & Maria M's IDWK remix competition, he's taken home a gold medal. He's earned himself a producer battle ELO of 1297! I assume that's good. And I think he might be American? Or German, if we're going by the name alone. You see, my shovel has hit granite quite quickly.
2.2. Badkill Records
So what label is this releasing on then? Badkill Records! Wait, where do I know this name from? Oh, right, that's where Deformaty, one of the still most underrated artists this scene has to offer, always releases his tunes. You can always count on the guy to deliver the goods. Anyway, so who is behind this imprint then? Alex Lightspeed and Todd Daggett, who is not just the main owner and operator of it all, but also active as an artist - as Deformaty! It all makes sense now!
With that revelation now also out of the way, what other knowledge can I offer, without side-tracking everything even further? Well, the imprint itself - founded in 2019 and based in Portland - has hosted anything from drum & bass to riddim-slash-dubstep to more leftfield sounds, with the faster tempos being represented by Jane Doe, GMG, Foks, and the main man Deformaty himself. Every Thursday, they provide feedback on Twitch, which might be where they found Unspoil. And lastly: they've got a sister label called Madchill Records, for the softer sounds of the electronic music spectrum.
This EP certainly belongs on the other side though.
2.3. Exoskeleton EP
With a shimmery, glitchy intro and some bit-crushed drums, we open up the world of the Exoskeleton EP with its opener and title track, Exoskeleton. As soon as you settle into the world Philipp has created for us here, he launches into a wild showcase of sound design trickery. Futuristic sword swish-swash-buckling, followed by what I can only describe as an alien trying to communicate the hurt and anguish inflicted by said plasma sword - that's where we start. This back-and-forthmula gets twisted, turned, chopped, and mangled into all sorts of directions, both rhythmically and with the addition of more and more Mefjustastic bass stabs.
After such a heavily techy opener, Over You's colourful, bubbly, vocal-driven vibes are perhaps giving some of you a little bit of whiplash, but trust me, once the 45 seconds mark passes, it's on. Twisting bass stabs, otherworldly growls, heavy drums, rumbling bass underneath it all, all rolled into one heavy-as-bricks drop. If you were craving some more niceness after getting lulled into a false sense of security by the intro, you should stick around to the second drop though. Opening up an entirely new melodic realm, while still remaining unique in its technicalities and sound design playfulness, it gives the listener a most wonderful way to conclude the ride. Rounding it off even more nicely after that, Philipp treats us to a Lo-Fi piano outro, complete with distant vocals, slow beats, and audio crackles. Excellent stuff.
Lastly, we stutter into the world of Distress, an expected feeling the track almost immediately delivers on. Relentlessly attacking our psyche and, frankly, physical well-being, this constantly starting and restarting, overpowering sports motor ratatata's to its heart's desire, waking you up even on the sleepiest of Mondays. After a little bit of mystical flute action in the breakdown, we are right back at it, with slightly less unrelenting, but just as crazy sounds, continuously tickling our brains in all-new spots.
2.4. Conclusion
Creative, filthy, futuristic, grimey, and just wonderful in so many ways.
New Releases
Dancefloor
- 5X - Gravity [Inverse] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
- Boxplot, terquoise, Airports - Abode [Pilot] | , [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
- Cartoon, Artino - Ultraviolet [Wobbles & Waffles] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
- Dossa, AIRGLO - Dance All Night [High Tea] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
- Irah, Arcando - Killer Instinct [Monstercat] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
- Jessee - Raving Crew [OVRDRV] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
- No Sense, Kamiko - Fallin' (For You) [Manifest] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
- Phaze - Legacy [Symphonic Starter] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
- Phaze One - Body Touch [Phaze One] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
- Sano - NRG [Selfrelease] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
- ThomX - Space Trip II [Selfreleased] | , [Spotify]
- Until Dawn - Oxygen [Automata] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Venjent - Yeah Grandpa [Selfreleased] | , [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Liquid
Alkali. - First Ascent EP [Fokuz] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Beatmool - Valhalla [Selfreleased] | , [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Darka, CrucifyMe, TheLena - Tuman Yarom [VALKYRIE] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
DJ Nai - The End [Lizplay] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Enea, Kamera - Safe Space (Enea Rmx) [Beatalistics] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
goddard., Jazmine Johnson - Lillies [UKF] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Just A Gent, Broey. - OnlyU [Selfreleased] | , [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Kaya Fyah, Jolliffe, Ellis Esco - Undecided [Galacy] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
KYRRA - Memory Recall, Pt. 1 [Suffocate Sanctuary] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Liquefaction - Tears [Liquid Brilliants] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Maduk, Degs - October [Liquicity] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Matt View, T:Base, hannelotta - Unknown Sphere EP [Fokuz] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp]
Maykors, Red Manta - Electricity [KushSessions] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Need For Mirrors - Trippy Troppy [Soul In Motion] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Soul Foundation - Paper Cups EP [Soul Trader] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
T.R.A.C., Winslow - Saturday Vibes [Spearhead] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Technimatic - Echoes of Us [Technimatic] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Vadaraeus, Lythosoz, Aquasion - Rainforest Pulse EP [Textures Group] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Vice Versa AU - Elicitation EP [Sonic Fiction] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Vio.let, AmberClxre - Silhouettes [Keeno Music] | , [Spotify]
Zentarnora, Censyden, Aquasion - Desert Mirage EP [Textures Group] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Deep / Tech / Minimal
Asitiz - Blindead EP [Dialect] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Billain, MCD2 - PARANOYA [CYBE] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp]
Breeze, Filthy Philp - Gwan Wicked [Trigga Fingaz] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Caspian, Spoonhead, Tecta, J-Kon - Primal Munitions EP [Onset] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp]
Counter Culture - NMTB / Make Me [Metalheadz] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Label Store], [Spotify]
Diverse - tear everything down [Make Your Era] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Duskee, Blooom - LOCKDOWN (DJ Edit) [Shogun] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Evil Quest - Put the Phone Down [Fruits Of Flava] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Fearful - The Craft / Side Effects [Yamatai] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Furious Freaks - Tart Flow EP [Let It Roll] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Jav, Protocol - DARK EP [Let Them Cook] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Morrow - What Came Before / Dimension [Transparent] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Mosaic - Celestial Dub EP [Dispatch] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Nodal, Plantz - Like This Like That / Pay Energy [High Resistance] | [Beatport]
Simple Souls, Entita, Sofi Mari - Disco Balls Ep [Four Corners] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Smoky D, LowRIDERz, Dubtype, Ozma - Twenty EP [Ozriderz] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Solsan - Fear Gorta EP [Deeper DNB] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Unspoil - Exoskeleton EP [Badkill] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Various Artists - Empathy Audio Presents: Rewired 2 EP [Empathy] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Neuro
Billain, Catherine Pan, Audio - EC100 - Sampler I: Final Protocol / HealHurtHateHelp [Evolution Chamber] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
DJ Pote - bass vs acid [Gold Break] | [Beatport]
Mel - Manhunt / Eternal [BrainRave] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Mizo, Swetti SV - Наступает Ночь [КОСТЁР] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Subminderz - Crankshaft / Take Control [STONX MUSIC] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Jump Up
??? - Sweep White Label Series Vol 3 [Sweep Da Scene] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
BigRedCap, Ms Pink, CLIQUES. - GET NUTS [Cliques Collective] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Chillhomers, GNTLMAN - Baile EP [Gorilla Warfare] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
El Pablo - Go Loud [Crucast] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp]
Fusion Season, Pengo, Premium, Kendrick D&B, D-Fuser - Hyperspace EP [Exert] | [Beatport]
Gino, Ric de Large, Grime Spitterz, Weejii - Tactic / Banzai [Clam] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Ironlung - Drop The Riddem [Dub Damage] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
kolyahorosh, GGrossy - Fuse [Dub Shotta] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Lateral - On Fire/Le Rock [Viper] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Parallel - False / Galvanism [all in good time.] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Rivum, BRIXX (UK) - Assassination / Place Your Bets [Banished Beats] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Sigma - ALLIGATOR [Day Ones] | [Beatport]
SXN & JXN - Destruct [POV] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Jungle / Halftime / Experimental
Aeon Four - Awakening [3AM Eternal] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Dwarde - Show Me [Up Ya Archives] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Encryption, Jungle George - Massive 'N' Cru EP [Ill Groove Society] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]
Getafix, n0isemakeR - Nefarious Merkin EP [PHDM] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp]
Mr Quest - Down Under [Thames Delta] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Oscar Egan - All The Massive [Crate Classics] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
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"* Venetian Snares - Miss Balaton
[K7] | [Beatport], [Bandcamp], [Spotify]"
General DnB / Mixed
Da Fuchaman, Speaker Louis, RjD, G-Class - Gun Salute [Jungle Cakes] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Distant Future, Dr. THC - Saint Petersburg [DEEPNAS] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Minding Mala'kai - Shadow EP [Selfreleased] | [Beatport], [Spotify]
Tinie Tempah - The Night's Not Dead LP [Believe] | [Beatport], [Spotify]