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Sub Focus’s latest studio effort, Contact, solidifies his position as a pioneer capable of fusing high-energy drum & bass with massive commercial appeal. The record acts as a culmination of his expansive live show philosophy, Circular Sound, translating the kinetic, festival-ready energy into a meticulously crafted 14-track collection. Nicolaas Douwma (Sub Focus) delivers his signature sound—a vibrant, polished fusion of liquid D&B, euphoric trance, and pop structures—but utilises a stunningly broad roster of collaborators to push the palette further. Rather than a retreat to pure underground sounds, Contact is a celebration of collaboration and the genre's broad emotional range, cementing the album as a defining document of modern bass culture.
The album is engineered for immediate, ecstatic impact, moving effortlessly between massive vocal anthems and complex instrumental sound design. Key tracks showcase this diversity: “Entwined,” featuring the ethereal art-pop enchantress Grimes, provides an atmospheric, almost ambient break from the high-tempo action, while “Ecuador” with Fireboy DML layers Afrobeat rhythms over fiery, transisted grooves, demonstrating Sub Focus’s peerless ear for pop structure. Elsewhere, the record leverages heavyweight UK talent, including Katy B and Connie Constance, giving familiar drum and bass forms a melodic and emotional weight that resonates beyond the club. The sonic precision is immaculate, characterised by brightly tuned synths, hard-hitting but clean breaks, and a driving, relentless bass frequency that anchors the entire experience.
What sets Contact apart is its ambitious scope. It successfully balances the nostalgia of early 2010s EDM euphoria with cutting-edge sound engineering. It’s a record designed to be heard in enormous spaces, yet maintains enough emotional detail and variation to reward headphone listening. By blending diverse vocalists and unexpected genres—such as the fierce, politically charged breakbeat of "No Comment" with Kneecap—Sub Focus proves that his status as an electronic titan is deserved, delivering an album that is both instantly gratifying and structurally compelling.
Tracklist
Ecuador (feat. Fireboy DML)
So Many Colours (feat. Poppy Baskcomb)
Oringal Don (feat. Fireboy DML & IRAH)
Elevate
Entwined (feat. Grimes)
On & On (feat. Bbyclose)
Roll Too Deep (feat. Subsonic)
Go Back (with John Summit & Julia Church)
Water & Fire (feat. Connie Constance)
Lost In Heaven (feat. Emily Makis)
Push The Tempo (feat. Katy B)
Let Your Body Rock
Wildfire
Fade (feat. Inez)