If there is one thing we have come to know in twenty-five years of drum and bass it is that if it is summertime, then it must be time for the yearly crop of summer themed compilations. Lots of liquid vibes, wispy pads and lush leads to get you in the mood for sitting by the pool sipping daiquiris, or maybe for an evening at the beach. You can’t forget those piano keys and middle of the road R&B vocals about love etc. For some, that’s perfectly fine and right up their ally, and I say go for it. For some of us, the summer is working in the hot sun, or sweating in a hot warehouse, or fighting off suffocating humidity. Our summer sounds are a little bit more gritty and pulsing. It’s the kind of music you want to hear thumping a sound system after a long hard day and you just want to get lost in the bass. Lucky for us, there is the Summer Drum and Bass 2016 album from Mayan Audio. They have put together their very first summer LP with 17 brand new exclusive tracks from talent around the globe that includes Intraspekt, Kritix, Tuff Touch, Dossa & Locuzzed, Kung, Benny L, Chewy Jetpack, Traced, Recs, Barbarix, Sixfour, Volatile Cycle, Dextone, Aperio, NeoVision, Pish Posh, Signalfista, Anna Vaverková & Jestah. This is loaded full of up beat, bass heavy tunes to keep your summer moving along just right.
My favorite track on this LP so far is “In The Groove” courtesy of Benny L of London. Its doubled up break, deep subs, airy and moody pads and atmospherics keep this one rolling out the whole way.