Drumline – Paradox 43

Three years between label appearances only ramps up the anticipation of a new drop from Paradox and, of course, the man delivers now it’s finally here. ‘Drumline’ is a love letter to 90s Reinforced-era jungle in that it is skippy, intricate, laced with b-boy vocal cuts and those warm, hazy pads that defined an era without ever feeling overly pastiche. ‘Trident’ shifts gear at 143bpm and leans into raw funk breaks, wobbly sub pressure and string stabs with effortless weight. Both sides are rooted in a lineage Paradox has always worn proudly. The Ukrainian Vyshyvanka-patterned sleeve adds a nice visual dimension to this welcome homecoming.