Boris Daenen, better known as Netsky is a Belgian Liquid Drum and Bass producer. He has been on the radar in the last few years with a few infrequent releases on such labels as Liqweed Ganja and Talkin Beatz. I remember being introduced to him about a year ago and not being too blown away with his productions, they were quite cliche in the liquid scene. There was something a bit too close to Brookes Brothers for me I think, where they could just do it better.

However, after a while of not listening to said producer, I was met with the self named album, Netsky, released on the 31st May this year. He seems to have brought on himself a new lease of life and with it a different direction of creativity. You can tell from certain songs on the album that he wants to ‘stretch the boundaries’ for want of a less used way of putting it. Tracks like “The Magic Russian Bottle”, come with a certain sly evil, something that Eddie K and Chase and Status often bring to the table. He underlays these with smooth breaks and some vocals which are as integral to the composition as the drums themselves. On the flipside, there are tracks like “Iron Heart”, just purely inspirational, airy, synth pad dominated pieces of beauty.

He really has tried his hand at everything on this album and it has worked like a charm. “I Can’t Hold It” starts off with quiet breaks and a repeated vocal, lulling you into the false sense of comfort and to the break where there’s a whining bassline to rival the best (or worst) in the dubstep business. And of course, the album wouldn’t be complete without some healthy liquid. Two tracks which are pretty nice are “Porcelain” but moreso “Escape”, typical liquid tracks with a certain something else which I can’t quite put my finger on.

Overall, a great first album and hopefully he will keep releasing great things on Hospital Records which of course have seen the Drum and Bass greats of High Contrast, London Elektricity, Danny Byrd, and another Jazz Cats favourite, Bop.

Buy Album on iTunes

Netsky Myspace

Black & Blue (Netsky Remix)

Classic banger and remix of Miike Snow's "Black & Blue", showing off remix skills as well as typical drum and bass acumen

MarvinGKHarris

Guido - Anidea

Guido is a guiding light at the end of the dubstep tunnel. Where dubstep was once a beautiful movement, so many have tainted it’s delicate skin with wobbly remixes of Pop songs, with no rhyme nor reason to the composition. But not Guido. Hailing from the spiritual home of the movement, Bristol, where the likes of Joker, Ginz, Gemmy, Jakes and so many more involved with the sound have come from, he has broken the mould. Taking influence from classic, heavy RnB and 90s Hip Hop, Guido has produced a beautiful record of 12 songs that will make you think again when leaving electronic music behind.

In an interview with FACT magazine, Guido talks about his musical abilities in being able to play jazz and classical piano: “I wouldn’t say my family is hugely musical but my dad was in a punk band [...] I’m not trained prolifically in jazz and classical although I have learnt both for a few years”. His producing started later in his school years and didn’t really have a particular direction. In Anidea, there are clear influences from the likes of old west coast rap, pop - the airy synths almost make you think back to Hall and Oates days - jazz and of course the obligatory heavy dubstep beats known so well.

The album is an eclectic mix of all these styles and more, there’s such diversity in the music and I’m sure that others will agree that this album offers something to a huge number of different people. There’s something for the hardcore bass fans but also for those that prefer the tight drums and piano styles of Usher’s Confessions. He has pipped a lot of artists to the post in releasing this LP and I’m sure it will pay dividends not only in his bank balance but also his respect in the scene. He has gained so many followers since the YouTube debut of “Mad Sax” and the two previous releases “Orchestral Lab” and “Beautiful Complication”. I hope to hear a lot more from Guido, and I hope he really pushes the scene forward in a positive manner similar to the likes of Phaeleh, Subscape and Dark Sky, who have all had their beats applauded just for the sheer originality.

Buy the album on iTunes (You won’t regret it)

Guido MySpace

Mad Sax - Clear Jazz influences, loose drums compliment the open sound of this track

Tantalized - A sort of Pendulum-esque insight into screaming, guitar based dubstep. Hauntingly beautiful.

MarvinGKHarris

Beautful