Lasers blazing, sub-guns locked and loaded, John B’s influential imprint Beta Recordings returns with an almighty bang. Responsible for unleashing early releases in the careers of now-household names such as High Rankin, Camo & Krooked and Xilent, John flexes his A&R muscles once again with this latest double-damager from Dexcell. Their pedigree more than established by way of killer releases on the likes of Titan, Breach and Destined, ‘Close Your Eyes’ is set to take the trio to the next level. Armed with a spine-melting synth hook and coated in the demonstratively emphatic vocal urgency of Katies Ambition, ‘Close Your Eyes’ has already been subject to sizzling spotlight attention thanks to BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra airtime from Friction and Metrik respectively. More attention is set to be pledged from across the board as Beta have also commissioned a super-sassy, super-sexified UKG rub. Deepening the vibe without diluting the impact, it’s a well-polished two-step treat that joins the dots between the tempos with true authentic London garage sophistication. Close your eyes… And it could be 1999 all over again! For added musical muscle, flex the flip for equal floor-floundering D&B drama: ‘Elevate’ lives up to its name thanks to the perfect balance of ominous groaning bass rumbles and delicate melodic motifs. Boasting a serenade of synths with piquant piano flourishes and a breakdown so emotional, this could quite easily turn the roughest of rudeboys into rose-sniffing poets. Two firing examples of D&B’s raw power without resorting to brutish bass, Dexcell are currently en route to the big league, and this Beta release is a one way ticket.
