BLACK SUN EMPIRE

'CRUEL AND UNUSUAL'

B.S.E.

4LP/2CD

(DECEMBER 2005)

Dutch drum'n'bass maestros Black Sun Empire return with their second full length 'Cruel And Unusual'.

Known for their distinct and inimitable flavours, Black Sun Empire (brothers Micha & Milan Heyboer and Rene Verdult) have further refined the formulae that formed their astonishing full-length debut 'Driving Insane' to produce 'Cruel And Unusual' which resets the standard slightly higher.

Out of the three strictly Black Sun Empire bits, 'The Cooler' begins with a robotic beatbox that builds from hip into a hypnotic break, whereas 'Bitemark' coincidentally leaves the best impression. Expertly arranged and intensely kinetic with several sweet touches, this baby boasts some of the finest phonic fangs found! 'Future Frame' has again a spaced intro, but the sounds resembling alarms should warn you for what is to come. After taking you deeper into a trance it switches much stronger than its siblings do. Spaced out, then stompy, classic chiaroscuro.

'Hideous', a collaboration with fellow countrymen Noisia is disgustingly appealing, and has already achieved anthem status. Illy MC stamps his lyrical authority on the synthetic and steamrolling 'Sideways', which packs enough punch to knock you in that direction. 'Masquerade' is the result of bits and bytes flying across the web, more specifically between Hungary and Holland. SKC and BSE meet up virtually to create some tribal beats which build into a frenzy of clarion stabs and serious breaks. Detailed and different.

Image ain’t everything though, which is why Black Sun Empire are doing their bit to support and spread awareness of the 'Dance4life' organization, which aims to make young people aware of the dangers of Aids and HIV. The proceeds of the two remixes BSE have made for their anthem will go to this ‘World Aids Campaign’. While the 'Dance4life Remix' on the sampler rolls right out, this one refuses to play it straight, instead raging and roiling around post-drop. Soft vocal, hard everything else.

Balanced and polished to near perfection, 'Cruel And Unusual' takes aim at both ends of the body with acute accuracy, ensuring a sharp strike-rate. When it comes to deadly, dark and digital drum‘n’bass, this is the real deal.