Deception Recordings boss Manifest returns to the label with the double A-side Medusa / Sovereign.
Counting established artists including BTK, Gremlinz, and 2Shy MC on their roster, Deception
Recordings has carved out a unique spot in the drum and bass landscape for dark and techy rollers.
At the helm of the label, Manifest has worked to push this sound on the imprint and in his own
musical output, earning guest mix spots on platforms including Data Transmission and recognition for the label from notable artists including Andy C, Gydra, Black Sun Empire, North Base, and Evol Intent.
The first track on this release, Medusa, conjures up images of a cybernetic society in the distant
future. Digital soundscapes and effects which would not be out of place in either Blade Runner or a forest psytrance cut pair with squelchy basses which slither between tight and mechanical drums. The result: a pulsating weapon tuned to shake up dancefloors.
In contrast, Sovereign presents a gritty and organic sonic aesthetic which is reminiscent of the
techstep found on labels such as Virus and Moving Shadow in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Big snares, steppy kicks, and twisted reese basses are the order of the day here, alongside dubbed out vocal samples and dystopian sound effects.
Across this release, Manifest reignites the forward-thinking and futuristic energy present in early drum and bass with two tracks which capture the musical diversity of the techy continuum.
BEATPORT / SPOTIFY EXCLUSIVE: 9th Jan 2023
FULL RELEASE: 23rd Jan 2023
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