Since bursting onto the scene a few years ago, Budapest-based label Eatbrain has generated more and more buzz with each consecutive release. It’s not surprising in the least; under the direction of label boss Jade, Eatbrain has slowly but surely accumulated one of the most solid catalogues of any drum & bass label today, guided by a mandate of “quality over quantity.”
After all, Eatbrain is a labour of love on the part of Jade and everyone involved. It’s the label’s distinct sound – carefully adhered to by the label’s artists – combined with a powerful visual aesthetic and Jade’s obsessive attention to detail with each release, that Eatbrain has inspired such a rabid fan base amongst neurofunk heads the world over.
Now, Eatbrain is back with its first release of 2014 and its tenth release overall – the Tales of the Undead LP. With 18 tracks from 23 artists representing 15 countries, the album is truly an international effort. Newcomers and heavyweights alike feature prominently on the album, though they all carry a common thread of quality.
The tunes aside, Jade has also outdone himself with the sheer scope of the release; in addition to the 18 digital tracks, drum & bass fans can expect a three piece vinyl edition and a double-CD. Pick your poison.
You can already cop the first piece of Tales of the Undead vinyl. The rest of the vinyl is due out on Monday May 5, with the Beatport exclusive release out the following week. All other digital retailers and the double-CD will follow late-May. Having already seen support from some of the top names in the game, the album is sure to make an impact. Don’t sleep on this one.
Ahead of the album’s release, we caught up with Jade and some of the other artists on the album to tell us more about the contributions…
Jade – What You Are
‘What You Are’ is the tune I’ve worked on the most in my entire career. I started it before I lost my old rent, and I was without a studio for a long time. Then, after building my new studio, I was obsessed by the tune. I was trying to get it right – but the new environment was so different from the old that it led me into several dead ends, until I found my way around the new acoustics and circumstances.
The tune is very complex, the intro is almost like a different tune, the two breakdowns and build ups are totally different, and the tune is constantly changing. This is a really unusual tune, but it tells a story, my previous year is compressed in this tune. I am quite happy with the result. Everything worked out for the best!
Look to your left, and the first object you see is the only weapon you will have in a zombie apocalypse. What is it?
My sunglasses. Well, at least I will die cool!
Mindscape – ‘Friday the 13th’ ft. Jade & Coppa
I had a beat and a simple bass riff, when Coppa came up with the idea to make another track together, so he recorded some vocals for the next day. He’s not that kind of a guy who wastes time! I showed Jade what we started, he loved the idea immediately so he joined us to finish the tune together in his studio.
We aimed to make a futuristic minimalistic tune with some horror influences and a big bad bassline, to fit to the label’s image, but the tune doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s all about having fun, isn’t it?
Look to your left, and the first object you see is the only weapon you will have in a zombie apocalypse. What is it?
On the left? I have my CDJs and mixer here; I might kill some zombies with sonic waves!?
Maztek – Hyper Reality
Hyper Reality is inspired to the “other kind of realities” you can reach or discover just listening to the music. The concept is really simple: you don’t like what are you living or feeling? Put your plugs inside your ears and go wherever you want to go. The limit is not the sky. About the production it’s all about the vision above.
Look to your left, and the first object you see is the only weapon you will have in a zombie apocalypse. What is it?
A grumpy cat saying “No! No!” At least I can save my humour and fight or die happy!
Coppa – Friday the 13th with Jade & Mindscape
Well, the concept behind Friday 13th is quite self-explanatory. It’s a rampage slasher massacre inspired lyric, lot of film references and imagery to paint the picture. I like the old school horror flicks ’cause they were less high definition, more raw, more splatter, and gore… far scarier. Jade & Mindscape really brought that to life!
Look to your left, and the first object you see is the only weapon you will have in a zombie apocalypse. What is it?
Samsung Galaxy Note 8…. I think I’m pretty much done for!
Dabs – Sniper
Sniper is a peak time one. I was looking for an old obsessive techy vibe for the intro – the weird vocal does what I mean. The body of the track is just impact, heavy drum hits and hi-open-hats pushed to the limit and coming out like a loader of a gun. The other mid-hi little hooks do the job.
Look to your left, and the first object you see is the only weapon you will have in a zombie apocalypse. What is it?
I’d climb the sniper hill on my left and wait to have the right vision!
Disphonia – War Bunker
The concept behind ‘War Bunker’ is that the listener is immersed amidst a hellish battlefield scenario where bombs are falling, bullets are flying and the only temporary shelter is an underground bunker. This concept is further fortified with real sonic ambience and effects near the end of the track.
‘War Bunker’ from the very beginning was a special track for us and the vibes we were getting were unique. We are really honoured that it has been so well received and played by people like Ed Rush & Optical, BSE, Maztek, Optiv & BTK, Mindscape, Neonlight, Chris.SU, State of Mind, etc. We wish to thank Jade for liking the initial track idea and for helping us persevere in finishing it up despite the horrific August heatwave.
Look to your left, and the first object you see is the only weapon you will have in a zombie apocalypse. What is it?
No weapon is able to defend you against a zombie apocalypse, it has yet to be invented… the only way to stay alive is to seek shelter in a war bunker!
Telekinesis – Atlas
Atlas is one of those tunes that came together real quickly. The process is quite standard now for all Eatbrain tunes. Watch a zombie movie, go directly in the studio. Once we got the main loop done, we dug up some dead breaks (Amen) and it fitted perfectly for the break. Then we added some more zombie stuff (growl vocals) in the breakdown, and of course every apocalypse needs an epic intro.
Look to your left, and the first object you see is the only weapon you will have in a zombie apocalypse. What is it?
I see a screwdriver…. I guess I might survive a couple of hours more.
Chris.SU – Underground Culture ft. MC Kryptomedic
Kryptomedic and I are both regular acts at the SUNANDBASS festival in Sardinia and in 2013 we spoke briefly about an idea doing a track together. Things escalated from then on, I sent him an audio clip of something I’ve been working on, and he sent me back some really sick vocals. I was also listening to a lot of Vangelis (namely the Bladerunner soundtrack) at the time of the production; hence the intro is inspired by that.
Look to your left, and the first object you see is the only weapon you will have in a zombie apocalypse. What is it?
My Technics 1210 turntable. If I team up during the apocalypse with someone with a massive sound system, I think it would be easy to kill all the zombies with bass…
L 33 – Comptus
My track is called ‘Comtpus’. Sounding wise it’s pretty intense. The thing I tried to achieve when writing it was to make a tune which sounds pretty aggressive but in the same time elegant.
Look to your left, and the first object you see is the only weapon you will have in a zombie apocalypse. What is it?
Vacuum cleaner.
NC-17 – Arboria w/ KC
Arboria came about when Kevin sent me the idea a while back. When going in on it we wanted to do something really dark & catchy, yet with a really moody vibe to it. Also though not intentional the track had a very vintage feel so it was key for us to get the right atmospheres and mood in the track to give the vibe we were after. After about a week of working on it we both knew we had a killer tune in front of us. It didn’t take more than a week to finish. The best tracks are always the ones you finish fast!
Look to your left, and the first object you see is the only weapon you will have in a zombie apocalypse. What is it?
I don’t care what’s on my left; I would still bring my shotgun!
Axiom – Watch My World Burn ft. 2Shy MC
‘Watch My World Burn’ originally started as a non-MC tune. By chance I received some vocal bits from 2Shy and threw them in them into the project. They fitted in very well, so we decided to make dedicated vocals for the track. The track itself has a dark, edgy vibe to it, which 2Shy perfectly integrated into his vocal. When we combined the new vocal with the track everything fell into place and we both were very pleased with the result.
Look to your left, and the first object you see is the only weapon you will have in a zombie apocalypse. What is it?
I guess I’m lucky I just finished cleaning my Bowtech Assassin. So bring those undead on, 3D target-practice at its best.