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Danny Byrd is back once again! Having smashed up dancefloors and radio playlists with his huge rave rework of Liquid’s “Sweet Harmony” earlier this year he returns with one of the biggest and most hotly anticipated dance albums of the year. “Rave Digger” is a non-stop helter-skelter ride of hands- in-the-air pianos, breakneck breakbeats and searing mentasm synths. Featuring the vocal dexterity of I-Kay, on a classic 90s hook, “Ill Behaviour” gets you right from the word go; and is a fitting statement of intent for a project which looks set to put a rocket up the backside of UK dance music.

“Judgement Day” sees I-Kay in a more forceful mood - picking up where last years playlist contender Red Mist left off, before D+B’s newest superstar Netsky joins Danny on “Tonight”, for some spine-tingling synth-fuelled mayhem. Hot Fuzz comes like an entire weekend rolled into one tune before things ease down to 140bpm for “We Can Have It All”; a timeless slice of euphoric breakbeat soul. There are more laid back moments, from the beautiful “Failsafe” featuring London Elektricity, to Zarif’s soul tinged vocals on “Wait for Me” and the classic jungle homage “Amen Alley”, all interspersed with more rave madness than you can shake a glowstick at.

Debuted exclusively by Radio One’s Annie Mac and jumped on early by Mistajam and Zane Lowe, this is drum + bass with maximum crossover appeal. From diehard D+B fans who have been there since the good old days, to a whole new generation of ravers lining the dancefloors at Hospitality and beyond, this is music without boundaries.

One of the very first artists to sign to the fledgling Hospital label way back at the turn of the millennium, Danny Byrd’s own inimitable take on soulful, vocal Drum + Bass has become a staple in the scene. His use of hip-hop, house and R&B influences has turned heads ever since his inception.

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