Drums, bass and jungle: Lachie Gordon on Shogun Audio and why they just keep getting better.
Shogun Audio is only getting bigger. Consistently hailed as one of the most forward-thinking labels in drum and bass, its near flawless release schedule and refusal to let its sound be pinned down has allowed it to stand out head and shoulders amongst its peers. From mainstream-friendly tunes such as Friction’s ‘Somewhere’ to brutal dancefloor destroyers such as Rockwell's ‘Full Circle’, Shogun have got it down.
Saturday night in Cable is a true celebration of this. It's the launch party for their excellent ‘Way of the Warrior’ compilation, which marks their 50th release since Friction launched the label seven years ago. With an exceptional stable to pick from, Shogun nights never fail to meet the mark, and with anticipation amongst the fans for the compilation’s release reaching fever pitch, it promises to be a very special gig.
Spectrasoul are at the helm as we arrive in the club and the Brighton duo are rolling out some deep tunes. They manage to maintain in their DJ set the same captivating sound that characterises their production – a fine combination of sometimes heavy techie beats sprinkled with emotive chords and vocals. For an encapsulation of this sound, listen to the incredible tune ‘Glimpse’ feat dBridge. The beats and bass slowly build, perfectly complimented by dBridge's silky voice, until they're finally fully unleashed in an impossibly heavy second drop.
Retreating into the bar turns out to be another treat, but this time of a very different sort – DJ SS is knocking out a no-holds-barred jungle set, bringing out all the classics, from Andy C’s ‘Valley of the Shadows’ to the indomitable ‘Brown Paper Bag.’ After a good old '90s-style skank, the future is calling again in the form of the visionary Rockwell. Perhaps one of the most unique and inimitable producers in drum and bass, he exploded onto the scene last year with the beautiful ‘Underpass’ on The Critical Sound EP. In the short time since that early release, his razor-sharp production and signature wooden beats have made him one of the most talked about young producers on the scene. Tonight he treats the crowd to a healthy dose of his own productions, allowing the sometimes frantic rhythms to breathe by throwing in a choice selection of rollers, as well as some winning liquid numbers.
Back in the bar again and Phaeleh is spinning the plates of steel. Known for his sublime track ‘Afterglow,’ he pulls out a fine selection of similar tunes – calm yet energising ,smooth, bass-filled numbers. It’s a far cry from the mid-range music that is calling itself dubstep at the moment, and all the better for it. The second half of his set maintains the same style but is dominated by garagy rhythms, which gets everyone bouncing in the packed room.
Meanwhile, label head honcho Friction is showing off his mad skills in room one. Well known for his prowess on the decks, he doesn’t disappoint – flying from roller to steppa and everything in between as if it's the easiest thing in the world. Despite this there is perhaps not quite the crowd response that I've seen before for a Friction set at Shogun Audio. But then he has set the bar stupidly high time and time again, so that's not exactly a criticism!
It would seem that Shogun can do very little wrong. I'm yet to dislike one of their releases, and their showcase nights have always been excellent. Long may it last.
Check out our video interview with label mainstays Rockwell and Alix Perez:
Video by Theo Martindale at Sindica, interview by Nettie Kahn.
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