Ten years in the game Kosen Prod has been delivering dangerous and daring drum and bass that pushes the limits with an impressive back catalogue that is overflowing with unique styles and fresh sounds that continue to innovate this music as time goes on. ’10 Years of Kosen’ celebrates that journey compiling 14 tracks from some of the many talented artists that have built Kosen into what it is today. This week I’m diving deep into the ’10 Years of Kosen’ release with a full review including feedback on the album, and Kosen Prod as a label, from some of the producers involved. Thank you to all who were involved in this effort!
Dark synths, rolling beats, bubbly effects and airy atmospherics build rhythmically as a groovy melody joins in Akrom’s “Nephyd”. These elements carry through the drop welcoming a deep, grinding bassline uniting with the fluid rhythm riddled with fancy breaks pounding powerfully through the solemn darkness. The low frequencies bounce in a frenzy as symphonic melodies sway and bend. “Nephyd” is a solid selection to conjure the darker mood of a mix.
’10 Years of Kosen’ with AKROM
What do you think makes Kosen Prod stand out from the rest?
There are very few labels around like Kosen, they really take care of the artist, and that’s one of the most important things for me nowadays, it’s more than a label for me, it’s a family.What’s your favorite song from the Kosen library over the past 10 years? What track are you really feeling from this release?
My personal all time favorite is definitely “The Sky Darkens” from The Clamps, I still play that track every time I can!
From this release instead I’m particularly feeling the tracks from Killer Industries, TR Tactics and The Clamps.What were your thoughts when asked to have a track on the 10 year release for Kosen Prod? How did you approach producing a piece of music for this type of milestone album?
I was really excited, getting part of such a big release was a big honor for me, and most important thing, I was making music for my friends.
I immediately started making some tracks to let them choose their favorite one, and in the end “Nephyd” was signed!
Bobby’s “Speak of the Devil” (VIP Mix) is a fresh take on one of his first tracks to be released on Kosen. The intro grinds and winds mechanically, full of suspense as it builds ferociously, fuming with power. A massive bassline breaks the build, reviving the vibe dropping into a heavy technical composition as the four by four rhythm pounds carnivorously. Highs run relentless as the bass drives hard, the rhythm twisting as it transforms this machine. “Speak of the Devil” continues to break, blast and rebuild… this composition is out of control and ferocious in the mix!
’10 Years of Kosen’ with BOBBY DNB
What do you think makes Kosen Prod stand out from the rest?
KosenProd is, for me, one of the best neurofunk labels for newcomers. Since I started production, it was clearly an objective to release some music there.
It pushed some of the best Neurofunk artists for 10 years, way before they were established names of the scene. I’m so glad to be part of it.What’s your favorite song from the Kosen library over the past 10 years? What track are you really feeling from this release?
Kosen has so many good releases I still play in my set. If I need to choose one of them, it will be The Clamps – “Mankind”, extract from his album Odyssey.
For this 10 years LP, all the artists did a really great job so it’s really hard to only pick one. But this track from Opsen called “Dystopian” is a true masterpiece!What were your thoughts when asked to have a track on the 10 year release for Kosen Prod? How did you approach producing a piece of music for this type of milestone album?
As I said before, I’m truly grateful to work on this label. So when they asked me to release something on this LP, I felt so good and began to work on the track straight away.
My first release on Kosen was ‘Speak Of The Devil EP’, so my idea was to make another version of those tracks, heavier than the original!
Before I used to play a lot of crossbreeds in my Neuro set, so I thought it was a good way to remix my track “Speak Of The Devil”, to give a new dynamic to it. Hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I enjoy doing it!To answer that: We absolutely are!!
Eerie atmospherics lend the way to brutal beats as “Atonal” from Brain ft. Don G trudges to the drop. Grimy blasts of burly bass and heaving horns reclaim the build, circling to a dark and moody composition seething with thick techy sounds. Vile atmospheric effects invoke spine tingling terror as the rhythm rides and the bass bellows feral and wild. Not for the faint of heart “Atonal” commands attention for a creative mix.
DJ Hidden’s “Crusader” crawls from the darkness chugging, chanting and groaning through the build until the vocal sample breaks, flipping the murderous melody into action increasing the suspense as the drop is near. Carnage waits in an all out assault as mutant beats gush thick and brutal over a vicious bassline. Impeccable effects and fills amp the energy, emulating aggression as the vocal samples add the perfect stimulant to the track. A remarkable composition from DJ Hidden brings the most demonic nightmares to life as “Crusader” is set to drive the dance into the darkness.
Keys float in on the highs twinkling bright beneath the vocal that’s endearing and emotive in Hallucinator’s “Hold My Hand” ft. Kiara. The soft sentimentality carries through as the serenade matures fused with the rhythm reaching for the drop. An upbeat dancefloor track comes to life the bassline rumbling with a gritty darkness as the melody takes the stage harmonizing with the vocals, edited and manipulated to become instrumentals of their own. “Hold My Hand” bounces on with adrenaline boosting energy until the breakdown welcomes the beauty of the verse once more. Fusing sub genres with style Hallucinator and Kiara create a vehement masterpiece to entice the dance floor, tenderly smashing them to bits.
Killer Industries utilizes a softer build playing upon synthesized keys as snares and fills entertain the build amidst an unknown vocal leaving little warning to the carnage that’s about to ensue when “You Are A Bad Boy” peaks at the drop. Animated out of nowhere this womper stomper is overflowing with exuberance as brutal basslines are entangled in a barrage of beats exploding with precision and brute force. Smashing measure to measure mechanically in a murderously groovy vibe “You Are A Bad Boy” grinds with explosive ‘in your face’ attitude this one is ready to lock and load!
’10 Years of Kosen’ with KILLER INDUSTRIES
What do you think makes Kosen Prod stand out from the rest?
I feel like Kosen is a label with an attitude and purpose that resonates with the K_i live-life-while-you-can philosophy.What’s your favorite song from the Kosen library over the past 10 years? What track are you really feeling from this release?
My favorite work ( So far) from the label would have to be anything with The Clamps and NickBee on it together. For this release my favorite tune would be from Redject. My neighbors listen to it all the time, whether they like it or not..What were your thoughts when asked to have a track on the 10 year release for Kosen Prod? How did you approach producing a piece of music for this type of milestone album?
At first I didn’t believe that it had been 10 years already. Time flies when you’re having fun, right?
When recording my tune I decided to stick to a vibe that made me fall in love with Kosen in the first place – Something hard, heavy and as groovy as someone named GroovyPants Gus. I’ve got some awesome ideas brewing for our 20 year compilation >:)
An energetic rhythm kicks right in on Kutlo’s “Blood Pulse”. Punchy and electrifying, synths engulf the beat pulsing to the drop. Four by four basslines blast methodically building and bending through the measures as this powerful composition continues to move and change with a melancholy mood. Kutlo keeps us guessing in this extremely interesting composition, “Blood Pulse” is an intelligent tool for the most resourceful DJ to create a unique groove.
’10 Years of Kosen’ with KUTLO
What do you think makes Kosen Prod stand out from the rest?
For me personally it is the space and motivation they give for upcoming producers. Also we share a similar taste not only for music but also for artworks.
That is one of the reasons I like to work with Kosen and the reason they stand out from the rest.What’s your favorite song from the Kosen library over the past 10 years? What track are you really feeling from this release?
I really like “Wookie” from Triamer & Nagato or “Evil” by Mean Teeth from previous releases. My favorite from this release is “Break My Heart” from The Maniatics. Love the hook in that track.What were your thoughts when asked to have a track on the 10 year release for Kosen Prod? How did you approach producing a piece of music for this type of milestone album?
When I was approached by Celine, I started to think which tune would fit the most for the compilation. I had already finished some tunes and one of them was played by The Clamps on Blackout Podcast like 6 months ago.
I instantly thought that if Julien likes it, Celine will like it too. So after that decision I made some final changes to the track, sent it to Kosen and “voila” here it is.
Inpenatratable synths wash over the build as a timid beat reports in return as Maniatics present “Break My Heart”. The vocal ignites fluid and flawless beautifully powerful engulfing the composition in emotion as it echoes to the drop. Dark, bouncing tones embrace the vocal manipulations as the rhythms run through the measures mystifyingly balancing the track. “Break My Heart” combines soft vocals, deep tones and tumbling basslines for an all around stellar selection in the mix.
Opsen’s “Dystopian” growls in mysteriously on suspenseful synths as the beat bursts through harboring a heavy, pounding rhythm as the harmonies build in tandem only to break as gnarly effects take control. The drop explodes with a massive bang as an industrial vibe consumes the composition in a barrage of beats and chunky, dirty basslines to formulate a funky flow. Staggered beats and angry basslines drive the track blending effects and deranged breaks into the mix. Diving to the deep depths of dnb “Dystopian” possesses relentless control.
The highs playfully tempt the build in “Bipolar Automat” from Redject as dark basslines burst between constructing a groovy rhythm as the bass consumes the composition. The drop concocts a dangerous design of heavy sounds, massive energy and robotic vibes as the kicks pump and the effects fire furiously. Redject is designing inventive bass music full of fury and synthy sounds to smash the mix and stylize any set.
The Clamps “Answers” dances in upon delicate beats, soft synths and bewildering vocalizations, building the intensity as the highs spiral uncontrollably to the drop. The kicks call out as the beat builds, unrestrained, booming and broken, smashing and slamming in this surreal composition of futuristic drum and bass. Manipulated measures increase the insanity with robust basslines pulsing on the prowl as the rhythm stutters, breaks and flips. Thick sound and eclectic composition fills “Answers” with symphonic suspense and brutal insanity, one not to miss!
’10 Years of Kosen’ with THE CLAMPS
What do you think makes Kosen Prod stand out from the rest?
They are my family!!! And it gives me all the freedom I need in music to tell my stories.
And I love the way how it’s connected to Karnage Records, it’s like reconnect the Drum & Bass with Hardcore back in the days.What’s your favorite song from the Kosen library over the past 10 years? What track are you really feeling from this release?
From the back catalogue, I think “Skirmish” by Picota & Kumbh represents the most the sound of Kosen, gritty, dark, fierce and atmospheric, all what I love in the DNB.
In the 10 Years release, so hard to pick one, I love and play all the tracks. Could say “Atonal” by Brain & Don G, as it has that dark atmosphere all the way.What were your thoughts when asked to have a track on the 10 year release for Kosen Prod? How did you approach producing a piece of music for this type of milestone album?
Céline asked me to do something for this Album when I was working on my latest EP “Seduction Scale”. I composed “Answers” with the idea to have a special blend of all what I love in music with all my background.
Kind of mixture of Drum & Bass with Hardcore flavors spiced of Electronica and Techno.
A mystifying melody gets things grooving in TR Tactics’ “Yellow Jack” as violent snares burst through building the structure of this tune. The drop is an onslaught of brutal neurofunk madness pounding vehemently with killer kicks and savagely broken beats as blistering horns join the ensemble to achieve the ambush. A brilliant snare drives the rhythm with punchy fills as the reece rumbles below. TR Tactics exhibits profound production techniques in this powerfully thick riveting composition, “Yellow Jack” is going to leave some jaws on the floor.
Vici brings absolute “Destruction” to ’10 Years of Kosen’ with a brilliant composition cascading through the build with deviant voices and vibrations in unhinged tones as subliminal messages stutter to the drop. Aggravated synths build tension winding with malicious intent. Funky basslines consume the lead grooving amidst an impressive drumline that snaps and pops. Angelic atmospherics are artistically placed as the effects twirl the track switching to heart racing beats with mini break downs that are creative and entertain new avenues in the mix. “Destruction” is a must grab a true weapon to shake the floor to action.
’10 Years of Kosen’ with VICI
What do you think makes Kosen Prod stand out from the rest?
Kosen Prod stand out from the rest because of this solid team, and also this solid roaster who show a great diversity in the heavy side of the Drum & Bass.What’s your favorite song from the Kosen library over the past 10 years? What track are you really feeling from this release?
My favorite track of the Kosen’s library is probably one track of the Odyssey LP by The Clamps, hard to pick one but “Friends In The Hood” give me a special feeling, i love it.
And for this compilation, I really feel “Atonal” ft. Don G, by my bro Brain !What were your thoughts when asked to have a track on the 10 year release for Kosen Prod? How did you approach producing a piece of music for this type of milestone album?
Was really hyped, be a part of a huge project like this is something, big up Kosen ! My approach for producing a piece of music for this compilation, was to make something modern who show we are now in 2021, and for say Drum & Bass have a wonderful future incoming.
Xeomi & Kaiza’s “Soulseeker” sneaks in on a soft build with light percussive elementss and smooth synths. The drop hits extra hard bleeding murky basslines into the tune that shimmy and sway amidst clean snares and a snazzy beat. The high end effects pop pouncing through the mix to provide balance and extend the tonal range enhancing the overall moodiness of the track. Dark and groovy Xeomi & Kaiza hit the mark with “Soulseeker”.
’10 Years of Kosen’ with KAIZA
What do you think makes Kosen Prod stand out from the rest?
Well, it’s a nice little label that’s not trying to pretend something else. And there is a family vibe going on. I really like that.
What’s your favorite song from the Kosen library over the past 10 years?
That’s deffo “Groove Propulsion” by Signs. I’m crying myself to sleep
every night because those guys split 🙁What track are you really feeling from this release?
“Atonal” by Brain and Don G, because it opens your head with a rusty
knife, takes out your brain, plays football with it and put it back in.What were your thoughts when asked to have a track on the 10 year release for Kosen Prod?
It was no big surprise because Celine sticks to her artists. Well
appreciate that. Thanks for being part of it.How did you approach producing a piece of music for this type of milestone album?
Haha, we just tried to contribute something a bit different.
Pre-Order ’10 Years of Kosen’ now, worldwide release date July 12.
