A stands for awesome.
Well it certainly does when Cyantific releases his trademark vibes. Released earlier this month, Hard Times/Type-A develops the CYN Music boss’s never-ending slew of slammers. Repping two wholly different sides of his spectrum in its wake.
With its bulbous rolling bassline and soulful vocal sample, lead track Hard Times is an instant rewind to the mid 00s, a time when he first started cutting his teeth as a producer.
“My girlfriend is into underground D&B and I wanted to write something she’d really like,” he explains. “I’ve been listening to a lot of old Commix and Logistics stuff and I wanted to capture the vibe from 7-10 years ago. It was a big time for me. I wanted to reach back and reference that and the people who were coming through with me… Commix , Logistics, early Sub Focus. Such a special time!”
Not just for Cyantific, but for D&B at large. There’s an argument to say it could even be seen as a golden age.
If you stick with the genre then you see that there are very few periods which aren’t a golden age for D&B. In my position I’ve seen all those ages, and they’re all golden.
“For me the first golden age was 97/98,” he recalls. “Ed Rush & Optical and that type of stuff. Generally I think people will refer to the time when they’re in their early 20s and going out every weekend as a golden age. But if you stick with the genre then you see that there are very few periods which aren’t a golden age for D&B. In my position I’ve seen all those ages, and they’re all golden.”
Just like right now as we’re treated to massive cuts like Hard Times counter track Type-A…
Complete with an accidentally sinister sample from a cheesy 80s dating video, it’s Cyantific at his most stripped back and brutal. What with the title being Type-A, we asked him for his favourite things beginning with A…
Arsenal FC
My family are QPR but I didn’t want to go through a life of misery! I’m there through good times and bad… We always come so close and I have faith we’ll get back up there!
Analogue sounds
I’m really into 80s music. I don’t use analogue sounds in my music as much as I should… But I love them. I’m not running any outboard gear, I’m really into sampling, but if I had the money and time then I’d run a semi-analogue set up but it costs quite a lot of money. My first investment would be a Moog Fatty which Logistics uses. It’s quite modern and more flexible for my type of set up. But if I had the money then I’d get the lot – SH101s and bits and bobs like that.
Albums
The whole concept of an album and listening to an album by an artist I rate from start to finish still really enthralls me.
I really hope albums don’t fall by the wayside in the modern digital age. The whole concept of an album and listening to an album by an artist I rate from start to finish still really enthrals me. Even if it’s a bit hard to get into at first. Back in the day you didn’t know what it would sound like until after you bought it… but you’d get it anyway because you love that artist. I don’t think new listeners appreciate that experience now. You can see on download stores which tunes on an album are the most popular which is a shame because you miss some really good stuff by buying the tracks that you instantly like. Classic albums that shaped this love for me are Off The Wall and Appetite For Destruction, then, when I was a little older, Black Sunday and Prodigy Experience. Just today I’ve just pre-ordered Todd Terje’s album. I don’t know all of his stuff but I know it’s going to be a really interesting listen.
Art
It’s an art form that will be lost in 100 years time. People will think ‘why did we get rid of that?’
I’m really into graffiti. I used to do it when I was quite a lot younger. I’ve kept in touch with it and some of my mates still do it. I’m really into following the people I looked up to on Instagram. I love the DDS Crew – Teach, Fume, Zomby and all that lot. The anti-graffiti measures have won. In the mid to late 90s there was so much in London but they’ve clamped down so hard on it with helicopter patrol and all that stuff. It’s an art form that will be lost in 100 years time. People will think ‘why did we get rid of that?’
Avocados
I’ve got one for lunch right in front of me. I’m a big fan! It’s great on its own, it’s great in guacamole… It’s so versatile. We know this really nice salad where you chop it up and put it in a salad with green beans which have been boiled and fried and mixed with seeds for texture. Really healthy and tasty. Highly recommended!
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