Majik

Drum 'n Bass, like so many new musical forms before and since, started as a vital and exciting underground movement - I remember listening to the Jungle Brothers original sessions for John Peel way back, when it was termed 'Jungle', and had a raw, rough and exciting edge. 

As it gained mainstream acceptance to the point where D'nB crept into TV adverts, it became so watered down and bland that it lost its appeal. Apparently, though, it never went away, but went back underground, in part I guess 'cos of the emergence of Garage (I'm told it should be pronounced "Garridge" by the yoof, just in case you are daft enough to know how the word should be pronounced 😏) and its many offshoots and sub-genres.

J Majik was part of Goldie's Metalheadz stable in the prime of D'nB and hasn't made an album in 20 years or so, but 'Full Circle' is a return to form with nods to "old school" acts like LTJ Bukem and Ed Rush and Optical, not to mention his earlier work. 

Overall, 'Full Circle' is a coherent, fresh-sounding album, but with a little humour thrown in - the track I've chosen - 'Codebreaker' - is more than a little tongue in cheek with its Darth Vader sample, but a good tune with a hint of darkcore, and who doesn't like darkcore? 😁

Good to have him back!