Hobzee & Uneven – Edge Of The Sea (Metalheadz Premiere)

Drum and Bass UK welcomes the premiere of Edge Of The Sea, a collaboration between Hobzee and Uneven, taken from Hobzee’s forthcoming Things Are Different Now EP, his first release for Metalheadz.

More than 20 years into his production career, Hobzee arrives at the label with a depth of craft that runs through the release. Away from this record, he is one half of Silent Dust and a co-owner of none60. Here, he is joined by Uneven, the Bristol-based DJ and producer who co-founded Squares Music with Jaskin and has built a catalogue across solo work and collaborations.

Edge Of The Sea opens with waves and finely placed hats before sweeping synths establish its marine atmosphere. Delayed high stabs and whispered vocal sweeps draw the intro out with patience, and a gentle break lifts the track towards the drop without forcing the moment.

When the rhythm lands, the pair settle into a tight, buoyant groove. A sharp, almost clap-like snare cuts through bouncing hats and rides, while the bassline moves around the sub rather than simply sitting underneath it. The result is detailed but controlled: wide in its atmosphere, precise in its drum work.

The breakdown strips the pressure back to near-silence, returning to wave sounds, delays and reverbs before the second drop introduces a fresh hat layer and locks the bass back into place. It is a collaboration that makes the most of both artists’ feel for space and restraint, translating the shifting movement of the sea into a focused piece of D&B.

Things Are Different Now lands on Metalheadz on 21 August. Alongside Edge Of The Sea, the five-track EP includes Hobzee’s solo Is It a Dream, collaborations with Response and Justice, and a second Hobzee & Uneven cut, Sound of Surprise.