AFR - This Is The Place (2022)

For our first full-length artist release on the label, it felt only right to offer this to our label's secret weapon, AFR. Young, but rich with musical knowledge and influence, his music spans decades, yet keeps one foot firmly in the future. Representing both AFR and the SINE team's love for genres outside of drum and bass, as well as AFR's hometown of London, 'This Is The Place' moves through various tempos and styles with apparent ease. All of this is glued together by the producer's wholly unique sound pallet; think fusions of drum and bass, techno, dub, trip-hop and beyond, all cleverly intertwined into eight tracks with a consistently high production standard.

A colourful drum lick and accompanying jazz vocal mark the first few seconds of this body of work, denoting just one of the many embedded influences that is present throughout. Quickly, this flips into a hip-hop inspired drum beat and funk-ridden bass groove that propels the album into motion with impeccable style. 'Colour Rises' is a more-than-worthy introduction that sets the tone for the rest of the album, never staying motionless and constantly evolving in its own soundscapes.

Moving smoothly into the second track, we are introduced to the soulful liquid sounds of 'One For You, Lou', spearheading one half of the drum and bass sound he's quickly becoming known for. The second half of this can be found in the ensuing minimal roller 'Storm Dub'. Pulsing bass, snappy runaway drums, and hypnotising vocals galore. it's an evolving club tune that's not scared to cause some damage on the dancefloor.

Perhaps to the surprise of many, the next two tunes mark both AFR and SINE Audio's first venture into the world of 140. 'Scapa Flow' has all the stripped-back charisma of dub techno, with the sullen force of sub-forward 140. 'Hot Flush' takes this up a notch, with a foreboding repeating synth line, deep 808 bass, and ever-progressing percussion. Heads-down business.

'IKYWM' begins to bring the tempo back to label familiarity, with evident nods to hardcore and jungle at 160bpm. The tune feels set in a moment of nostalgia, yearning for the raves of yesteryear that AFR himself was too young to attend. Watch the progression in this one, as the energy levels cleverly rise and fall thanks to precise drum-work and a hypnotising female vocal lead.

Back at drum and bass tempo, we are met with another of the heavier club tracks 'Romani'. While not rip-your-face off in its approach, it focuses around a spirited, modulating bass line that continues to take on new forms throughout its five-minute duration – perfect for those mid-set rollouts.

Finally, we close off the release with title track 'This Is The Place', a stunning liquid tune that resembles everything SINE loves about AFR's sound. A masterclass in musicality and production combined, the vocal and synth led track leaves in a state of melancholy, while confirming the producer's proverbial home in the electronic music landscape.