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J Plates - EP Review: Brain Drain

13 May 2020 // A review by Gwarden

NZ-born, UK-based producer J Plates surfaces for another killer EP following a brace of releases last November on Omni Music UK. This time around he lands on London label In-Reach Records with 5 cuts of old school Drum n Bass that will please fans of intelligent, rugged beats.

The opening of title track Brain Drain sets the tone: a distorted Moving Shadow-style snare and plodding 808 kick is joined by moody strings before a nasty, hoovering bassline drops in to create the kind of dark stepper ravers were going bonkers for in dimly-lit warehouses in the late 90’s.

Second track The Search is a rolling, liquidy tune that rounds things off with an uplifting vibe thanks to lush keys and a stripped back aesthetic, while Witness is a loping roller with intricate hi-hat work, pensive synth stabs and cheeky FX that recalls early Total Science.

The dread continues on Proximity which features a more shuffling beat but still uses crisply sampled drums and sparse minor-key pads and FX to brutal effect, with a stabbing, minimal bass conjuring the spirit of Dread Recordings and other 90’s jungle/tech crossovers.

Bonus track Emotions shows off the range of subgenres J Plates is capable of, a shimmering melody drenching a sub-170bpm amen to create dreamy liquid jungle.

With most tracks clocking in at over 6 minutes, and a less-is-more approach to song construction, this is a throwback EP in the best possible way, utilising cutting edge production to conjure the vibe of an earlier era of Drum n Bass when it was less about full-on sonic assault and more about crafting moods and soundscapes to get lost in. Make sure to add this to your library or DJ arsenal, and watch for more from this talented artist coming soon!

Purchase the Brain Drain EP here

Rating: ( 5 / 5 )
 

About J Plates

J Plates (J. Graham) has released music worldwide on labels such as; Silent Force Recordings (UK), In-Reach Records (UK), Omni Music (UK), Skalator Music (PT), Audio Theory Records (GR), Offworld Recordings (UK), Deafmuted Records (CZ), Liquid Brilliants (RU), ill Records (UK), Bare Necessity Records (UK); had tracks featured on a slew of international radio shows & podcasts including Bass Drive, The Green Room, Rude FM, DNB Dojo, Naked Beats, Jungle Train, Phuturistic Bluez, and BBC Radio 1; performed alongside artists such as Dave Owen (Good Looking Records), Calyx & Teebee (Ram Records), Concord Dawn (Uprising Records), Bulletproof (Cyanide Recordings), Truth (Deep Medi Music), Optimus Gryme (OGR), Black Sun Empire (BSE), Octane & DLR (Dispatch Recordings); and received track support from a reputable list of artists such as; Stunna, A Sides, Klute, Vice Versa, Con*Natural (aka MC Conrad), John Rolodex, René LaVice, DJ Stretch, DJ Trax, Skeptical, Random Movement and many more.

Join the 'Official J Plates Mail List' here.
Social Links & Highlights

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for J Plates

Releases

Under The Skin
Year: 2021
Type: EP
4 Way Split
Year: 2021
Type: EP
Going Deeper EP [BNR008]
Year: 2021
Type: EP
Seven Days Of Fire [JPLP001]
Year: 2020
Type: Album
Midnight Dubs EP [JPEP002]
Year: 2020
Type: EP
Brain Drain EP [IRR005]
Year: 2020
Type: EP
Telepathy EP [OMNIEP189]
Year: 2019
Type: EP
Visions EP [OMNIEP085]
Year: 2016
Type: EP

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