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Few artists to emerge from North America’s drum & bass culture have made such a significant or enduring impact as San Francisco trio Bachelors of Science. Formed in 2005, group has spent the better part of a decade writing memorable music, carving out an unmistakable signature sound that spans the full emotional scope of the genre. Two full length albums and numerous memorable releases on some of drum & bass’s finest labels had already secured Bachelors of Science’s spot amongst North American D&B’s elder statesmen when the group founded Code Recordings in 2012 - a label dedicated to honing the Bachelors’ own sound as well as the scene’s finest up and coming talent. Now in 2015, Bachelors of Science is proud to present its third full-length outing and first for Code - The Space Between.
Bachelors of Science launches into The Space Between on a high note with ‘Before You Go’ featuring Dylan Germick and Audio Angel. Wasting no time, ‘Before You Go’ sets the vibe with a cascade of crisp breaks underlying optimistic piano melodies. Lush bass tones and Germick’s soulful vocal stylings quickly take control, cutting through the mix and hanging together in perfect balance. It’s the kind of singular songwriting abilities drum & bass fans have come to expect from the trio. ‘On The Line’ sees the trio joined by Intrigue Music’s Ben Soundscape and and Collette Warren. The resulting collaboration is a rolling, moody number. Fast paced drums, warm bass, and carefully placed guitar licks set the stage for Warren, who delivers thoughtful lyrics with audible levels of melancholy. Tracks like ‘Backfoot Dub’ (feat. Emcee Child) and ‘Everywhere We Go’ (feat. Soultrain Locomotive) take things back to the dancefloor in a big way, with guest vocalists and a heavy ragga influence underscoring the Bachelors club-friendly instincts. The eponymous ‘The Space Between’ sets itself apart almost immediately - replacing catchy dancefloor rhythms with rapid-fire breakbeats and ethereal bass weight. It’s a combination as beautiful as it is deadly. ’Kanto’ offers a slight refrain the album’s dancefloor friendly framework, dipping down into a potent halftime groove before moving on to one of the album’s standout tracks - ’Satisfy’ - a shimmering jungle-infused ballad riding the line separating hard from soft. While rich melodies and soul drenched vocal snippets ring out above, ‘Satisfy’ is driven by its thundering low end and precisely arranged breaks. It could be said that ‘Satisfy’ and its emotional range embodies Bachelors’ music as a whole. ’Cartier’ is an emotive liquid funk construction, replete with longing vocals and tranquil instrumentation. ‘Control’, on the other hand, takes on a far more eerie approach; bleak atmosphere and sparse low-end melodics held together by clean, steppy drums - marrying the futuristic aesthetics of jungle with the Bachelors’ musical sensibility and formidable production chops. Bachelors of Science closes The Space Between with the 808 Mix of ‘Don’t Hold Back’ featuring Dylan Germick; a stripped back reimagination of the original, taking Germick’s inspiring lyrics and unique vocal timbre into new territory.
When all is said and done, The Space Between makes for a powerful new mission statement from the group - both for themselves and for their quickly rising Code Recordings imprint. It really shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. It's a sentiment shared by many, with support pouring in from heavyweight players like LTJ Bukem, Random Movement, and S.P.Y. - not to mention respected brands like Fabric and UKF. With The Space Between’s release, it’s clear Bachelors of Science has much more to offer in 2015 and beyond.
Supported by Technimatic, Doc Scott, Method One, Artificial Intelligence, Dave Owen, Stunna, Bailey, Fabio, Skeptical, Friction, DLR, Rene LaVice, Nu:Tone, LTJ Bukem, Jenna G and many more.
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- Drum & Bass
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