TUFF051DUB – Final Approach / The Specialist
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℗ Straylight Music Group - © 2025 TUFF LOVE DUBS / Published by: We Are Legion (ASCAP) / Distributed by: Straylight Music Group
Between 2018 and 2020, as I worked on reviving TUFF LOVE DUBS as a modern Jungle label, my (then secret) creative partner, Acid_Lab, and I hit a point where the style was locked in. There were over 20 tracks completed in just under two years, each one a revelation leading to the next and the next, though it came with a bittersweet realization: as a solo operation in the US with next to no distribution or marketing support like my mates labels had in the UK, I knew it would be years before some of these tracks saw a release.
But patience has paid off. Two of my favorites from this period, ‘The Specialist’ and ‘Final Approach’, are finally out. ‘The Specialist’ is a breakbeat powerhouse, drawing heavy inspiration from early Photek, with lush pads and echoing vocal blips, while the dynamic break switches make it an absolute winner. It’s also been a staple at REFUGE_, one of the US’s premier Jungle nights, where one of the night’s founders Rat Galactic has it on regular rotation.
On the flip, ‘Final Approach’ brings a slightly more serious tone, with its “we’re now on the approach phase” vocal sample anchoring the track while sharp Amen breaks and soaring pads create a palpable sense of momentum. It’s songs like this that made me a lifelong fan of Jungle / DnB and being in a position now, to release music like this, is a dream come true!
We’re taking things back to the roots with a pure reference to the golden era, and a nod to the future by making 2024+ releases available on both 10″ Vinyl Dubplate and Digital Downloads <3
