Browse by Label: BLACK BOX (UK)

Artist:	N-TYPE & SEVEN
Title:	Unity/Syphon
Label:	BLACK BOX (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$9.00
Catalog #:	BLACKBOX 003EP

"Tough yet polished dancefloor weaponry from two accomplished producers on the increasingly bankable Black Box imprint. Rave docu-samples introduce 'Unity', the speech snippets giving way to grinding monolithic subs and hard-smacking drums, as traces of psychedelic synths dance before your ears. 'Syphon' continues in the same vein, rock-solid beat patterns inter-locking with a reversing warp bassline, hypnotic filtered riffs and deep LFO oscillation. Quality gear. Support: Hatcha, Skream, N-Type, Mary Anne Hobbs."

Artist:	DJ MADD
Title:	On Top/Need This
Label:	BLACK BOX (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$9.00
Catalog #:	BLACKBOX 006EP

"DJ Madd's stock continues to rise with his latest excursion on Black Box. 'On Top' has become a dubplate anthem with consistent rewinds across Rinse FM's A-list shows. Catchy vocal hooks, emotive horns and solid song structure propel this high above the standard dubstep bangers. 'Need It' continues the A-grade production quality with an all round more glitch affair. Uplifting synth-lines punctuate a tidal bass surge and snappy vocal snatches keep fingers skyward. The DJ Madd global take over continues. Support: Skream, Youngsta, N-Type, Walsh, Benga."

Artist:	SEVEN
Title:	Sinister/Abduction
Label:	BLACK BOX (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$9.00
Catalog #:	BLACKBOX 007-2

"'Sinister' kicks off in ominous fashion with broody technoid synthwork and a muscular bass workout. Drums are formed into a wriggling 2 step rhythm retaining their explosive impact with a neck snapping wood block crack. Here Seven proves why he's one of the most varied beat makers out there. On the flip is 'Abduction', a more traditional dub-floor workout. Creepy sci-fi samples cue up a lightsaber bass excursion, only Seven's impeccable drum-work could hold back the torrents of tidal low-end. A classic Seven darkout! Support: Youngsta, N-Type, Breakage, Hatcha, Chef."

Artist:	SEVEN
Title:	Wait/Germs
Label:	BLACK BOX (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$9.00
Catalog #:	BLACKBOX 007EP

"With strong DJ support and highly-rated studio collaboration from the likes of N-Type and Youngsta, Seven is building a rep for himself as the go-to guy for tough, hard-edged beats -- a rep that's cemented by this two part EP for Black Box. 'Wait' is the sonic equivalent of an unstoppable force, as loose drums and sizzling electric bass get steamrollered by a barrage of hammering 808s -- add in some vintage hip-hop cutups and you have the ultimate Y3K B-boy weapon. On the flip is 'Germs', a Youngsta exclusive for months at his request but finally available on wax. The tense intro is overlaid with apocalyptic sci-fi samples, heralding the deadly combo of rock hard drums and thunderous sub bass."

Artist:	KRYPTIC MINDS
Title:	Can't Sleep
Label:	BLACK BOX (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$9.00
Catalog #:	BLACKBOX 010EP

"To prime listeners, Black Box is pleased to announce 'Can't Sleep,' the title track and their most in-demand dubplate. The track opens in classic Kryptic Minds style, with moody strings and synths setting the vibe before the entrance of vocalist Alys Blaze -- her powerful voice belying the fragility of the lyrics, her vocals circling like a moth around some unseen flame. Coupled with the sheer force of the crisp beats and truly thunderous bass, 'Can't Sleep' is both a powerful modern anthem and a tender song of heartbreak. To accompany the original track, Berlin-based sound designer and Ninja Tunes' hottest signing Emika has provided not a remix, but a reinterpretation and response. 'Make You Sleep' inverts the mood and aesthetic of the original, creating instead a low-slung anti-love song, full of quiet menace and veiled eroticism -- all delicately poised over Emika's sultry late-night beats."

Artist:	LURKA
Title:	Tempted
Label:	BLACK BOX (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$9.00
Catalog #:	BLKBXXX 002EP

"Lurka finally makes his debut on vinyl after a storming 2010 -- he's enjoyed heavy support from many A-list DJs, including weekly plays by Youngsta and Distance on their Rinse FM shows, leading to the inevitable inclusion of 'Tempted' on Yunx's Rinse CD. Each release in the 'XXX' series on Black Box is a single-sided vinyl, with black labels and sleeves, cut as a 10" on a 12" disc with all the artist & track info etched around the outside by the mastering engineer, and pressed in limited numbers for ultimate collectability."

Artist:	DJ MADD & CHRIS SU
Title:	No Respect
Label:	BLACK BOX (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$9.00
Catalog #:	BLKBXXX 003EP

"Etched one-sided disc. Having relocated back to Budapest after his time in the UK, Madd has taken the opportunity to team up with fellow countryman and veteran D&B producer Chris SU, with devastating results. 'No Respect' has been a permanent feature of Youngsta's weekly show on Rinse FM and has all the hallmarks of a classic Yunx anthem -- dark, tribal halfstep beats, menacing atmospherics and speaker-test bass manipulation -- this is a reliable dancefloor weapon that won't leave the bag for months!"

Artist:	DJ MADD
Title:	Dub Marine
Label:	BLACK BOX (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$11.00
Catalog #:	BLACKBOX 008EP

DJ Madd is fast becoming one of dubstep's stars, receiving DJ support from the likes of Gilles Peterson, Rinse FM's DJ Youngsta, and more. "Dub Marine" became something of an anthem when it was released in early 2010 with its rolling drums and raw, junglist bass, but has been revised by Kryptic Minds into a dubby killer with stripped-back percussion, tense atmospherics and slabs of pure sub pressure. "Good Old Days" showcases his style perfectly -- minimal yet funky.

Artist:	KRYPTIC MINDS
Title:	Can't Sleep
Label:	BLACK BOX (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.50
Catalog #:	BLACKBOX 011CD

In less than 3 years, Kryptic Minds have carved a deep channel into the dubstep scene, mining its traditions of spatial minimalism, edgy atmospheres and sub-bass intensity to deadly effect. The culmination of this work is Can't Sleep. Bleak yet uplifting, it is the soundtrack to visions of a sterile land, devoid of people -- only ghosts remain to recount the histories of their passing. The passive, prolonged tension implied by the title permeates the entire album; with taut beats and edgy synths -- the sonic equivalents of clenched jaws and coiled springs. Further, the solitude of insomnia is encapsulated in the long reverbs and epic soundstages that Kryptic Minds have painstakingly created, evoking dark, empty spaces and absolute solitude, yet there are moments of release to be found. Fearsome dancefloor weapon "The Fifth" unleashes a wild technoid bassline, barely restrained by powerful drums. Guest vocalist Alys Blaze soars over the urgent backing of the title track, and the bittersweet coda of "Fade To Nothing" warms like winter sunshine. Other tracks point to a future beyond dubstep -- hints of Portishead's melancholy can be found on "Alone," traces of Detroit machine-funk run through opener "Brief Passing," and shreds of '90s junglism litter "A Glimpse Of Hope." As an album, Can't Sleep succeeds simply not as a classic of the genre, but as a future electronic classic in its own right.

Artist:	KRYPTIC MINDS
Title:	Can't Sleep
Label:	BLACK BOX (UK)
Format:	3x12"
Price:	$23.00
Catalog #:	BLACKBOX 012LP

3x12" version, featuring 6 of the 13 tracks from the CD. In less than 3 years, Kryptic Minds have carved a deep channel into the dubstep scene, mining its traditions of spatial minimalism, edgy atmospheres and sub-bass intensity to deadly effect. The culmination of this work is their new longplayer, Can't Sleep. Bleak yet uplifting, it is the soundtrack to visions of a sterile land, devoid of people -- only ghosts remain to recount the histories of their passing. The passive, prolonged tension implied by the title permeates the entire album; with taut beats and edgy synths the sonic equivalents of clenched jaws and coiled springs. Further, the solitude of insomnia is encapsulated in the long reverbs and epic soundstages that Kryptic Minds have painstakingly created, evoking dark, empty spaces and absolute solitude, yet there are moments of release to be found. Fearsome dancefloor weapon "The Fifth" unleashes a wild technoid bassline, barely restrained by powerful drums.

Artist:	DJ MADD
Title:	Transmissions: Vol. 1
Label:	BLACK BOX (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$11.00
Catalog #:	BLACKBOX 013CD

In just over 18 months, Black Box has gone from being a totally new imprint to one of the most recognizable and reliable brands in dubstep. Under the careful guidance of scene veteran DJ Thinking, the label has nurtured a tight roster of names both new and old, giving a home to upcoming artists such as DJ Madd, Seven and Lurka, while also drawing in content from dubstep royalty including the likes of N-Type, Hatcha, Kryptic Minds and Breakage. Heavy live and radio support from A-list DJs, coupled with crisp artwork and the unmistakable Black Box insignia, has quickly imprinted the label onto the public's collective psyche as a trusted outlet for UK bass music. DJ Madd has followed a similar trajectory to his home-label Black Box, with his support list reading like a who's who of dubstep. 2011 has seen Madd cement his position in the higher echelons of the scene, with releases on N-Type's Wheel & Deal and Kryptic Minds' Osiris Music, weekly plays on Rinse FM, Kiss FM and BBC Radio 1, and an ever-growing schedule of gigs across Europe and beyond. Following the recent success of the Kryptic Minds album Can't Sleep on Black Box, and with increased interest in the label, it seemed an appropriate time to ask DJ Madd to compile a studio mix of new, old and unreleased tracks from the label, and to package this mix as a low-cost product to appeal to casual shoppers and would-be listeners. Madd's mix takes in many past highlights of the label as well as fresh material and dubplates, giving a fantastic overview of the depth and quality of the label's music direction. Other artists include: TMSV, Cyrus, Benton, Lost, Youngsta, Commodo, Chris Su and Phaeleh.

Artist:	DJ MADD
Title:	Blank Space
Label:	BLACK BOX (UK)
Format:	2x12"
Price:	$18.00
Catalog #:	BLACKBOX 014EP

DJ Madd's "Blank Space" has been a permanent fixture on DJ Youngsta's weekly Rinse FM show with halfstep drums, subterranean bass and sci-fi synth-work. "Pitfall" takes things deeper still, as Madd teases the most basic elements out into a hypnotic dub version. "Murder 96" taps into the possibilities of 140bpm jungle to create a surefire dancefloor weapon while Madd teams up with Phaeleh for "Ritual," filled with lush string arrangements and vocal snippets matched by growling subs, hard-smacking snares and searing mids.

Artist:	COMMODO VS. LURKA
Title:	Airtight/Gassin
Label:	BLACK BOX (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$11.00
Catalog #:	BLACKBOX 015EP

Commodo and Lurka have so far enjoyed A-list support from Mala, Distance, Youngsta, N-Type and many more. Black Box is extremely excited to have signed a killer 12" of collaborations by the two producers. "Airtight" opens with a taut intro of dry percussion and droning ceramic pads, which leads into a drop of thick LFO-ridden synth-bass, tightly-programmed beats and sly flourishes of pads & FX. "Gassin" unleashes a variety of technoid basslines, stabbing metallic mids and deceptively deft drum programming.

Artist:	KRYPTIC MINDS
Title:	Arcane/Can't Sleep
Label:	BLACK BOX (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$11.00
Catalog #:	BLACKBOX 016EP

Taken from the Kryptic Minds' sophomore dubstep LP, the Youngsta collaboration "Arcane" has been a favorite of many. Based around a rolling 808 groove and laced with the Detroit vibes and techy flourishes that are the trademark Kryptic sound, "Arcane" takes the listener on a late-night ride through darkened subways and deserted moonlit streets. Scuba reworks "Can't Sleep," converting the powerful groove into a pacy 4/4 format around which he arranges a relentless mid-range growl and delayed vocal refrains.

Artist:	LAS
Title:	Power Surge/(Desto Remix)
Label:	BLACK BOX (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$11.00
Catalog #:	BLACKBOX 018EP

LAS' "Power Surge" channels both the earthier, more vital tones of Mala and the techier aesthetics of Icicle's productions, or Youngsta's DJ sets for Rinse FM. Built 'round a lean beat of razor-sharp hats & snares, LAS constructs a heavy roller. On the flip, Desto turns the track completely inside-out, inverting the beats & bass to create a vacuum-formed Y3K electro-warper. Heavy support from Rinse FM DJs including N-Type & Youngsta, and repeat plays on XFM from Mary Anne Hobbs.

Artist:	KILLAWATT
Title:	Sidewinder
Label:	BLACK BOX (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$11.00
Catalog #:	BLKBXXX 006EP

Killawatt presents "Sidewinder," which blends swirling, shimmering strings and ethno-percussion with tough drums and swooping bass, taking dubstep's halfstep orthodoxy and flipping it to build a high-velocity roller. Ipman turns in an irreverent rework, turning cruising tribal dubstep into a 140bpm jungle throwback. Each record in the XXX series comes with black labels in a black paper sleeve. All artist & track info is etched into the record itself at the time of mastering.

Artist:	TMSV & JUNE MILLER
Title:	Ghost Ship/Lost Cause
Label:	BLACK BOX (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$11.00
Catalog #:	BLKBXXX 008EP

TMSV teams up with June Miller for the second part of his collab EP on Black Box. "Ghost Ship" features mutating laser-bass hemmed in by strings and pads. "Lost Cause" creeps further into the shadows, with dub techniques applied to modern sound-sets, layering icy textures over halfstep beats and solid bass. Each record in the XXX series comes with black labels in a black paper sleeve -- cut as a 10" on 12" vinyl, all artist & track info is etched into the record itself.

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Artist:	HEADHUNTER
Title:	Clone/Projector
Label:	BLACK BOX (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$11.00
Catalog #:	BLACKBOX 020EP

Artist:	BIOME
Title:	Space
Label:	BLACK BOX (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$11.00
Catalog #:	BLKBXXX 004EP

Artist:	PHAELEH/DJ MADD
Title:	Lament/Pitfall
Label:	BLACK BOX (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$11.00
Catalog #:	BLKBXXX 005EP