Calculon, Neve, Jaybee, & Dave Owen: Leads / Comfort Zone
none60

So strong was the last none60 single, Mirrored / Dont Think by the label's showrunners Silent Dust (Dan Blishen and Andy Hobbs) in collaboration with Hathor and Dominic Ridgeway, it would be hard to imagine the next could equal it. In fact, Leads / Comfort Zone by Calculon, Neve, Jaybee, and Dave Owen comes pretty damn close, with all four bringing extensive backgrounds in drum'n'bass and jungle to the project as well as individual releases on a plethora of labels.

Hailing from New York, California, and Florida, respectively, Dave Owen, Calculon, and Jaybee pool their considerable talents for “Comfort Zone,” a six-minute, action-packed dynamo that quickly advances from a softly whistling intro into a muscular throb of light-speed junglisms, bass thrust, and vocal windups that for some bizarre reason collectively exudes a sinuous and subtly sinister Arabian vibe. Clattering snares rampage hellaciously through a dense, dizzying swamp of vocal accents and thick synth washes, the result a stunning head-spinner of the first order.

Now partnered with Neve, Calculon and Jaybee return for “Leads,” whose five-minute journey begins in some sweltering tropical jungle before a militant, stutter-funk groove marked by clipped vocal accents takes over and then further mutates into a fierce, jungle-fueled battering ram. Ornamenting the trip is a bright, five-note synth figure whose warble punctuates the roar at strategic moments. Needless to say, both of these amazing productions speak highly on behalf of none60's output.

March 2019