Reviewed by David Bain

Released on the Base 9 label Alfa One Seven give us their take on the drum 'n' bass scene. This tight, punchy mix pushes nine bass-heavy tracks into a half hour. MC Eno Dna, from Essential Grooves, drops stabs of positive lyrics, hyping up his rhythm to suit the beats. Alfa17's aim of fusing hip-hop with the harder edge of the squelchy d&b sound works well. This talented producer, who plays live with a sampler and beat machines, clearly knows how to get a crowd going with opening tracks "Come Down Selector" and "Just Like This" which are firmly rooted in an old-school, party vibe. But it's further into the mix that an innovative edge occurs with the thoughtful, half-time experiments on "Intellect Spys" and the closing blend of scratchy cuts mashed with heavy undertones of "J.S.S.". Although this is certainly not a new sound for d&b, certainly from a UK perspective, that's not really the point here. The tunes are big and brash and would definitely satisfy a seasoned fan of the genre. This is a significant and refreshing addition to d&b culture. More please!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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