To drum & bass fans the world over the names Calyx & TeeBee are synonymous with high quality, perfectly sculpted music. Calyx & Teebee are known for their forward-thinking and energypacked music. Their music has had an impact on the scene for over fifteen years.
While Calyx & TeeBee’s first collaborations emerged in 2004, their history and friendship dates back to 1998 when they were introduced as label-mates of the legendary Moving Shadow imprint. In the following years the two artists accumulated astounding solo back-catalogues of releases on a glittering array of D&B’s most respected labels.
Calyx & TeeBee launched Momentum Music which marked its first release with their debut long player. The ‘Anatomy’ LP proved to be one of the most highly anticipated albums in D&B for years, gaining massive support from the scene’s big players and topping sales charts for months.
‘Anatomy’ set a whole new agenda. Following its release, Calyx & TeeBee decided to embark on non-stop tours across the globe, venturing into their now legendary and consistently in-demand joint DJ sets sporting 6 decks and 2 mixers with both players in action simultaneously.
After signing exclusively with the mighty Ram Records, they delivered their long-awaited sophomore album ‘All Or Nothing’: a kaleidoscopic array of music that sideswiped the scene with its jaw-dropping showcase of creations and collaborations. Five years in the making, this game-changer repped Calyx & TeeBee’s extensive range and abilities at a whole new level. The ensuing barrage of radio play and press exposure took the duo’s profile to unprecedented levels; with countless requests for high-profile remixes and a never-ending schedule of festival appearances, both their following and overall reputation reached an audience that transcended the genre.
Calyx & Teebee return with their second release of 2017 following an extensive US tour, taking it back to the sound which originally made them so notorious. Their first single from this year Ruffian stripped back the vocal-lead records found throughout their second LP and presented something more reminiscent of their darker selections. Scaramanga is no different, alongside collaborator Mortlock. And with two successful LPs on the Ram Records imprint, Scaramanga is unafraid to break out of the commercially viable paradigm and instead represents the heavier part of their drum & bass sets. The record takes you back to their roots, a welcome reimagining of the music which made them so identifiable.
A track which has already been played out behind the decks in recent months, Scaramanga opens on strung out melodies and a cleverly deceptive intro. The unnerving drive and repetitive, heavyweight bass rifts create a hard-hitting cut which is difficult to disentangle yourself from. It’s easy to see why Scaramanga has done so much damage on the dancefloor. Alongside mixing samples and snapping instrumentation, Calyx & Teebee keep hitting with every carefully constructed break, packing a mean punch.
With more releases scheduled in over the coming year, Calyx & Teebee yet again bring their slick progression and add another building block for their next offering. Thanks to tracks like Ruffian and Scaramanga, audiences both new and old will appreciate the music which made Calyx & Teebee such revered icons within their field.
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