Stately, sun-spattered, soulful and subtle: There’s a particular type of D&B track that fits the summer like a pair of Ray Bans. Something that works perfectly at festivals. Something that the house lovers will resonate with. Something to cruise to all your party destinations to.
Every summer has a small selection of releases that fit that successfully fit that bill… And we have two, courtesy of emerging UK talent Virtue. With previous outings on E-Motion and Influenza – plus a major co-lab with fellow Gloucester D&B champ Callide and heavy championship by John B both live and in his weekly podcasts – Virtue has set a solid foundation for a long-lasting career in beats… And he’s taking it next level right here.
We kick off with ‘Blow My Mind’. Opening with a misty, filtered key refrain, it grabs attention instantly. Soaked in emotion-laden chords, each new element adds more majestic texture before an arresting vocal surges into the mix and leads into one of the most crisp drops we’ve heard in a long time. Nodding referentially to the mid-to-late noughties golden era, there’s a loose, breathy lushness to the fusion, allowing each element to sit comfortably and naturally in the mix. Meltdown guaranteed.
‘Think Of You’ follows. Igniting with a slightly harder edge, a hooky synth line takes the lead before windy pads, dynamic breakbeats and a well-executed vocal loop fire up the groove. Before we know it we’re deep into that purring, rolling summer bass sound, swimming in a sea of blissed out sonics that manage to sooth and slap in equal measure. Complete with a dramatic half tempo breakdown which strips the tracks back to its bare elements before rebuilding again, it’s yet another surefire case for a sweet summer showdown.
Seasonal timing couldn’t be better; Virtue has nailed two creations that will blast right through the sunny sessions and keep us warm in the months that follow. With a wealth of future material ready to unleash, this hardworking, talented newcomer is only just coming to the fore. And right now he’s doing it on Beta. Bring on the summer!
TRACKLISTING: 1. Blow My Mind 2. Think Of You