State of Mind are Stu Maxwell and Patrick Hawkins, Drum and Bass superstars from across the Tasman who’s debut album Take Control was a punch on the neck call for anyone in doubt that New Zealand was producing some of the most cutting edge DnB around. Those familiar with their first album or any of their single releases will know they well combine the militant, technical urgency of beats with heavy bassline, snarling vortices of anger and catchy, anthemic hooks, think Flashpoint for a great example of what these guys can bring to the party.

What’s new with their sound then? Well for one thing it sounds like they’ve been working on their drops, which seem more dramatic and thought out than on some earlier offerings. I think Space Surfer amply sums that up, which basically keeps dropping and morphing for the duration, and listen too to the epic build up and drop on Wake up Call which, if you did set it as your alarm, would ensure you got out of bed, angry as hell and instantly in a showdown with your neighbours for blasting the bass-ing hell out of them.

Plus, whilst they’ve always mashed up beats it has to be said that this release seems to have more scope and variety than Take Control, which often deployed a bouncing, rolling drum line. Take, for example, first track Dead Zone with it’s slightly retro feel or the RAMish All Mixed up. Whilst the slightly arabesque sound so prominent on Take Control still comes through on some tracks, it’s been integrated in to a larger, more robust soundscape making it less gimmicky and richer.

But the song I’m sure everyone is going to be listening to, talking about, rewinding and raving about will be City on Fire featuring rapper PNC who’s catchy chant and solid rapping give over to a huge rolling beast of beats and bass before joining the two together.
Mention also must go to Fly with Elitia Clark’s beautiful vocal track. I don’t think it’s the strongest album on the album, a little bit like substandard Teebee but it’s also probably the most accessible track on the album so I certainly understand the inclusion and I think the same reason explains the inclusion of Kinetic which seems to be on the Pendulum tip or certainly in that direction.

The bonus CD that come with this includes some reworkings of tracks from the first disc, including a superior Deadzone in my ears which deserves the highest volume setting you can reasonably get away with wherever you’re at. This is a great album that confirms State Of Mind as one of the top production duo’s about and if you like DnB, or you’re just curious, this is an action packed album that shouldn’t disappoint.