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Breaking through with a fresh & funk-fuelled sound, the Bournemouth-based DJ/production duo of James Davidson and Greg Hepworth are making their mark in 2010 and setting the pace for others to follow.
These two essential singles mark the relaunch of a newly revitalised Subtitles and clearly demonstrate why Ulterior Motive are fast-building a reputation for high-quality, innovative drum & bass.

Ulterior Motive

James Davidson and Greg Hepworth joined forces in 2003 when they discovered a mutual passion for the kind of funky, technical and futuristic drum & bass pioneered by Ed Rush & Optical in the late-90s. Taking this as inspiration, they worked hard to forge a sound of their own by combining custom hand-built studio kit with modern production techniques before tentatively reaching out with early demos. The response was immediate and Ulterior Motive tracks have since become a staple for the very best selectors in the scene.

Teebee was one of the first to recognise their talent, snapping up ‘Infrasonic b/w Holding On to Never’ for Ulterior Motive’s debut single on Subtitles. Summer 2010 brings two further 12”s, ‘Featherweight b/w Glued’ and ‘2098 b/w Yoghurt Brainwave’, with both singles getting heavy rotation right across the board from Noisia, DJ Marky, Marcus Intalex, Alix Perez, Loxy, Calyx, Commix, Break, Icicle and Kasra to name but a few.

One of the standout tracks of 2009’s Sun & Bass Festival, ‘Featherweight’ put the duo firmly on the map and has been punching holes through speakers worldwide ever since. Built on crisp breaks, cheeky percussion and a classic hip-hop hook, the certified dancefloor-smasher showcases their signature funky sound and delivers a downright dirty bassline sure to test any system.

Ulterior Motive

Combining an open-minded creative approach with the technical skills and drive to bring their ideas to life, Ulterior Motive have already collaborated with the likes of Jubei, Rockwell, Zero T, Sabre and FD among others. Demonstrating attention to detail, quality control and a strong work ethic, the versatile producers have their sights firmly set on the top with offers from leading labels and some high profile remix work in the pipeline.

Appearances for top label nights Renegade Hardware and Ram and festivals including Sun & Bass have proved both members of Ulterior Motive to be highly-capable DJs in their own right. Look out for live sets across the UK and Europe as Ulterior Motive look set to build on their successes and keep their sound fresh.

SUBTITLESUK001
Ulterior Motive
a) Featherweight
b) Glued

Released 31st May 2010 on 12″ Vinyl / Digital

Going straight for the knockout in Round 1, ‘Featherweight’ is Ulterior Motive’s biggest track to date and a firm favourite with heavy hitters like Teebee, Hype, DJ Marky, dBridge, Marcus Intalex, Fabio & Grooverider and Friction. Punchy beats combine with a classic hip- hop hook to set the vibes before dropping below-the-belt with a bassline dirtier than Mike Tyson. ‘Glued’ rolls out with infectious percussion and a rasping low-end, keeping crowds gripped to the dancefloor and reinforcing this crucial future-proofed 12”.

SUBTITLESUK002
Ulterior Motive
a) 2098
b) Yoghurt Brainwave

Released 28th June 2010 on 12″ Vinyl / Digital

Ulterior Motive take you back to the future with ‘2098’, recalling pre- millennial tension with sci-fi atmospherics, genetically modified breaks and a bionic bassline straight out of the golden era of drum & bass. DJ support from the likes of Noisia, Ed Rush & Optical, Alix Perez, Jubei, Total Science, Commix and Break proves they’re doing it right. ‘Yoghurt Brainwave’ sees the UM boys swapping their trademark synths for full-fat funk bass and hinting there’s a heck of a lot more in their locker.

What the DJ’s are saying:

Ed Rush “Gonna be playing 2098 for an age, doing serious damage worldwide. More tunes like this please!”

dBridge “I wondered how long it would be for someone to come along and re-ignite the flame left to fade by others”

SP:MC “Optical left the gate open and these boys are coming right on through”

Jubei “These guys are like the Marty McFly & Doc Emmett Brown of drum & bass right now, bringing that funk back. As Ulterior Motive build momentum, we all wait with great anticipation”

Links:

www.myspace.com/theulteriormotive
www.facebook.com/ulteriormotive.uk
www.soundcloud.com/ulterior-motive-uk
www.twitter.com/ulterior_motive

Introducing the new label ‘Footprints’ from Zero Tolerance set to launch in the next few months. Two big first releases to showcase, audio can be found below, first, over to Zero T to introduce the label…..

We at FOOTPRINTS are setting our stall out to provide something we feel has been missing from the zeitgeist for too long now….

That something is “90′s Music”…..yes folks, its been 10 years since the 90s and we for one miss it more than ever. It was a time when music metamorphasized into so many wonderful, radical, heartfelt and completely new forms. Unfortunately, life and culture moves in cycles and i think we can all agree that the “noughties” was a largely forgettable era for ALOT of reasons.

The complete dominance of consumerism in our world has , combined with the Net 2.0 revolution, sucked much the life out of this thing we call music. But every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and if Rage Against The Machine making the UK Christmas No.1 in 2009 is a signal of the backlash, the we at FOOTPRINTS hope to assist this return to an older Ethic:

Motivated from the Heart , not the Wallet.

So, in this new Decade we aim to regularly provide you with music made for your mind AND body, that will shake any building to its foundations but still stand alone as a piece of music, taking you to another place, time or mood when heard in its entirety.

We decided to start as we mean to go on…with a BANG!

FOOTPRINTS debut 12″ features label owner ZERO T and old friend BAILEY (BBC/METALHEADZ) combining to devastatin effect. “Wasp Factory” , as you may have guessed, is not a love song! Currently a favorite of everyone from Goldie, Ed Rush and Optical, Lemonde to Paradox and Loxy….Not for the feint-hearted!

On the flip of this comes a slice of paranoid funk from Belfasts mercurial Genius Calibre , alongside DnB legend ST Files of SOUL:R fame! “Devil Inside” has that familiar Signature/Soul;r roll to it, but the other elements may surprise a few: Dark gliding, filtered Reese bases undulate under a piano line to put a chill down your spine….something different from the norm!

Support from Hype, Fabio, Grooverider, Bryan G, Alix Perez, Spectrasoul, Commix etc..

Following hot on the heels of PRINT001 is PRINT002 :

ZERO T + MOSUS -”Shallow Grave” and BETA 2 – ” Cabin Phever”

ZT and his Kiwi buddy get a bit rowdy this time, with a heavy inspration from the early Virus sound of 1998-99. “Shallow Grave” sneaks in a kicks you in the gut and pounds you like Giant Haystacks!! as the vocal sample states….”.i roam when its dark, and take you to some secret place and bury you” Indeed!

Mr.T decided to keep it in the family , Irish-Style, for the 1st two 12″s. So after old cohort Calibre provided the 1st flip side, next up is Zero’s original colaborative partner BETA 2. Its now 10 years since the pair debuted on 4 HERO’s Reinforced, and a long awaited return to the game from BETA 2 looms large! ” CABIN PHEVER” is classic ‘Blue Note’ buisness, for those that know! Beta tickles the ivories with aplom, plucks the Double Bass and chops a break in a style remeniscent of that ginger Ninja , Rupert Parkes (aka Photek)..Two words:

FILM-NOIR

Heavy support from the likes of Marcus Intalex, Jubei, Ulterior Motive, Bailey, Loxy, Ed Rush etc.

PRINTS001
A) Zero T & Bailey – Wasp Factory:

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AA) Calibre & ST Files – Devil Inside:

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PRINTS002
A) Zero T & Mosus – Shallow Grave:

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AA) Beta 2 – Cabin Fever:

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Current Zero T DJ dates confirmed:

21 Jan 2010, 20:00 08:00 PM – Poland tour part 1, Warmińsko-Mazurskie Warsaw

21 Jan 2010, 20:00 08:00 PM – KLUB PEIKARNIA, WARSAW

23 Jan 2010, 20:00 08:00 PM – BRISTOL, Southwest BS1

30 Jan 2010, 20:00 08:00 PM – FOOTPRINTS LAUNCH @ HQ, London and South East OXFORD

05 Feb 2010, 20:00 08:00 PM – TWISTED PEPPER, Dublin D1

06 Feb 2010, 20:00 08:00 PM – KENT, London and South East KENT

12 Feb 2010, 20:00 08:00 PM – BERLIN

19 Feb 2010, 20:00 08:00 PM – FABRIC LIVE, London and South East EC1

07 Mar 2010, 20:00 08:00 PM – STINK @ 54 COMMERCIAL STREET, London and South East LONDON

12 Mar 2010, 20:00 08:00 PM – BUDAPEST

26 Mar 2010, 20:00 08:00 PM – BRISTOL, BS1

01 Apr 2010, 20:00 08:00 PM – EOC presents CIA @ GRAMAPHONE, London and South East

05 Apr 2010, 20:00 08:00 PM – SNOWBOMBING

30 Apr 2010, 20:00 08:00 PM – CRITICAL @ WIRE, Northwest LEEDS

Largely considered two of the most progressive and interesting Drum & Bass labels in the world right now, Exit Records and Non Plus Records are proud to announce their upcoming and imminent releases from label boss dBridge and ASC.

Released on 16th November on Non Plus:

NONPLUS003
ASC
Porcelain / Focus Inwards

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Instra:mental welcome a new addition to the Nonplus+ camp who goes by the name of ASC. This producer is by no means new to making music, but recently his productions have become an essential addition to dBridge & Instra:mental’s Autonomic podcast series and also frequents their club sets.

‘Porcelain’ is a perfect illustration as to why Instra:mental have been paying ASC’s music so much attention. It begins with a glitchy yet groove-laden beat coupled with dramatic piano and fx stabs, then fills out with a warm drawing sub bass and smooth atmospheres. As the track progresses and you think it’s reached its climax, ASC cleverly layers an almost oriental sounding percussion stab to accompany the bass line and picks up the track to another level. This track is a prime example of being able to express the utmost with the minimum.

‘Focus Inwards’ is the deeper side of this 12” and as the title suggests, takes you on a journey into yourself. Fully charged with progressive chords and melodies alongside electric sounding drum fills and percussion, the arrangement, musical content and pure elegance of this track give us an insight into ASC’s compositional abilities and potential for the future.

Youtube Hype video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0TAFidrE8o

Released on 7th December on Exit Records:

EXIT018
dBridge
Inner Disbelief / 5th Floor

Exit Records bring their busy 2009 release schedule to a close with this outstanding 12” from label owner dBridge, featuring two tracks that have been consistently played over the last few months by djs such as Goldie, Friction, Alix Perez, SpectraSoul, Fabio, Doc Scott and Marcus Intalex amongst others.

A 12” getting massive DJ support from across the scene. ‘Inner Disbelief’ is reminiscent of some of dBridge’s Gemini Principle LP tracks with a more dance floor friendly edge, but as usual without compromising quality control. It’s yet another example of dBridge using his vocal talent to compliment his productions and create his signature flavour of “aggressively beautiful” music. A re-arranged piano hook sample layered upon a moody bass line and driving beat provide the backing for this very catchy and listenable song.

On the flip we have another track from dBridge entitled ‘5th Floor’. What appears at first to be quite a sparse track slowly builds into an all out roller with its musical elements becoming more and more frequent and drums gradually layering up to create pace and energy. This track screams out classic dBridge in every sense with its clever use of musical stabs, eerie atmospheres and growling sub bass.

Following the huge success of his previous album ‘Fear Of Flying’, Big Bud delivers yet another classy and effortlessly beautiful long player, packed full of all the musicality you’ve come to expect from him and featuring special guests Utah Jazz, Furney and Mike Romeo.

FILMCD004 – Big Bud – Connections

1. Kiki

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2. Soul Sista *

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3. Millenium (Utah Jazz Remix) *

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4. Want You So Bad *

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5. Kupus U Uglu *

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6. Diggit (ft. Furney) *

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7. White Widow

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8. Fumble Dub *

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9. Ostinato

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10. Kimooki Dub

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11. Guiding Star (ft. Mike Romeo)

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* – Also appearing on the Vinyl version (FILMLP004)
Release Date – 21st September 2009.

Robin O’Reilly, better known to the world as Big Bud, made his name crafting atmospheric drum & bass for labels likes Fabio‘s Creative Source and LTJ Bukem‘s Good Looking. In recent years though, it’s been all about his own label, Soundtrax, where he’s released a series of outstanding releases from himself and like-minded producers.

‘Connections’ takes in a breathtaking selection of sounds and moods, all with a breezy liquid-funk-esque tinge to them. If you already know Soundtrax output then you won’t be disappointed with this CD. If you’re new to the label; what took you so long?!

From the soulful vocal ‘Want You So Bad’ to the Eastern influenced guitar plucks of ‘White Widow’ this album has something for everyone and Big Bud fans can rest assured that he’s updated his production to modern standards but kept all the dynamics his music lives for.