High Contrast

If you were drawn to Jungle and Drum ‘n’ Bass in the early 1990s by the hyperkinetic breakbeats and creative sampling, but lost interest as Jungle disappeared and Drum ‘n’ Bass devolved into formula and cliché, then you’ll want to spend a little time with Lincoln Barrett. Barrett’s a 22-year-old Welsh Drum ‘n’ Bass wizard who records under the name High Contrast. His latest release is a deliriously fun, two-disc set that brings pop-craft back to the genre, while retaining the bracing rhythmic aggressiveness that made Drum ‘n’ Bass such a breath of fresh air 10 years ago. Highlights include the gorgeous "Make It Tonight" and the desperately funky "Mermaid Scar."