Deception Recordings boss Manifest delivers two cuts of deep, minimal, and techy drum and bass - including one collaborative single with the veteran Voice MC.
As the label founder, you would expect a Manifest production to match the dark and gritty sonic
aesthetic which Deception Recordings has represented since its inception. His most recent
contributions do not disappoint. Equally, you would anticipate that MC who has previously worked with legends including Brockie, Bryan Gee, and Fabio and Grooverider to deliver serious vocal talent. Once again, expectations are exceeded.
The dual single opens with The Basement, a Voice MC feature. An anthem for the basement raves which serve as the foundation and soul of the genre, the effortless flow of Voice MC captures the energy of a dimly lit, low ceiling room filled with a pumping soundsystem. Even though the vocals are paired with an instrumental as intense as the subject matter, all of the elements fall into place - like any well-run rave. Steppy drums, fizzy basslines, and dubbed-out vocal chops make for a dirty minimal tune ready perfectly crafted for a club environment.
Phoenix Rising follows with an instrumental track heavily influenced by dystopian drum and bass from the turn of the millennium, a regular feature of Manifest’s production style. Chromatic chord progressions carried by lucious pads, ethereal vocals, and shuffling hats set the stage for a climax characterised by thick, syncopated snares, punchy kicks, and a twisted call-and-response bass pattern. Much like a Phoenix, the ‘90s-00’s techstep sound has been resurrected - this time, in a contemporary form.
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