February: 9 breaks releases you need to hear this month

My Nu Leng & Kry Wolf feat Kiko Bun 'What You Feel' (Food)

My Nu Leng and Kry Wolf team up for something very special here. Both modern purveyors of UK underground music, they take us on a historic journey that unites jungle and breakbeat, all polished off with a modern twist. These retro sounds of yesteryear have been making a massive comeback lately and judging by crowd reactions, it’s a sound that’s definitely here to stay.

9/10

Sub Focus 'Love Divine' (Virgin/EMI)

After a short hiatus, prolific UK producer Sub Focus returns with a new series of club-focussed heaters. Annie Mac’s Hottest Record ‘Love Divine’ is a nostalgic, 90s-inspired fusion of fiery jungle beats and piano-driven breakdowns. With a new album looming and live shows set for the summer, it’s going to be a busy year for him.

8/10

Coldcut feat Roots Manuva 'Only Heaven' (Cadenza remix) (Ahead Of Our Time)

The original version of ‘Only Heaven’ received a resoundingly positive response upon its release from all corners of the industry. Remix package duties come curtesy of man of the moment Cadenza, who brings vibrant footwork flavours to his rework, while Special Request introduces dark, ravey keys and garage-style beats.

7/10

Chris Lorenzo 'Bad Bitch' (Sixty6Music)

Chris Lorenzo’s highly anticipated new album ‘Destroy The Image’ comes in all manner of shapes, sizes and styles. ‘Bad Bitch’ flies the UK Funky flag featuring Afro-inspired percussive beats and a simple, yet highly effective female vocal. Fresh, forward-thinking creativity from an artist who’s clearly at the top of his game.

8/10

Shinamo Moki feat Meuko Meuko 'Artificial Beach' (Maltine Records)

Shinamo Moki originate from the UK’s south coast and have honed their sound based on a shared love of 90s anime, Japanese contemporary art and Eastern architecture. Their free download ‘Artificial Beach’ is a magical and soul-stirring affair that really rewards repeat listens; it’s all in the details with this one.

9/10

Matroda 'Silhouettes' (White)

Matroda’s ‘Silhouettes’ immediately grabbed our attention with its dirty, playful bassline and moody, urban vocals. It bounces along nicely, but the real impact here comes courtesy of the earth-shattering breakdown that’ll hype your crowd into a frenzy. We’ll be keeping a close eye on this elusive artist’s future ventures.

7/10

Mafia Kiss 'Close The Door' (Common Underground remix) (Punks)

Mafia Kiss’ 2016 hit ‘Close The Door’ gets the remix treatment from Australian duo Common Underground. They don’t stray too far from the original, but give it a welcome fresh lick of paint for 2017, picking up the pace and introducing their signature, shuffling beats. A definite must-buy for fans of the original.

8/10

EVM128 feat Oliver Night 'Warm ‘n’ Easy' (Wotnot)

EVM128 is one of your favourite artist’s favourite artists. He shot to fame back in 2011 with his debut ‘Groove Content’, and he hasn’t looked back since. His contribution on Wotnot’s new ‘Dancefloor Sweets Vol 2’ comp lays Oliver Night’s warm, soulful vocals over a wonderful blend of choppy beats and striking chords.

8/10

Solc 'Mosquito' (Perfect Driver)

Taken from Perfect Driver’s new 20-track compilation ‘Swerve Volume 3’, Solc’s Mosquito sits somewhere between breaks and house: this 808 frenzy of crisp, tidy beats and jumpy low-end bass features a distinctive lead hook that really grabs your attention. Deep, cross-genre techiness.

8/10