Cover image for If We Left This Earth

Drum & bass · Release review

If We Left This Earth

Degs

Degs returns with If We Left This Earth – a soulful, 15-track album on Hospital Records featuring Gabriella Bongo, NCT, Eva Lazarus, Ragga Twins and more. A powerful fusion of heart, craft, and club energy.

Hospital Records Released 8 May 2025

South London’s vocal powerhouse Degs returns with his long-awaited second album, *If We Left This Earth*—a bold, 15-track showcase that confirms his evolution from rising wordsmith to one of drum and bass’ most compelling storytellers. Known for fusing live vocal finesse with soulful liquid foundations, Degs steps confidently into new sonic territory, enlisting an impressive roster of collaborators along the way.

From the jump, the LP traverses moods and styles with intent. The Dux n Bass-assisted “Hive Mind” is a rowdy underground standout, where rugged half-time rhythms meet break-driven energy—elevated further by a feature from Dutch duo NCT, whose crisp production recalls their work with Liquicity and Monstercat. It's the kind of tune designed for low-ceiling raves and after-hours rewinds.

But *If We Left This Earth* isn’t just grit—it’s heart, too. The celestial “Spacesuit” introduces Gabriella Bongo, the 20-year-old Hospital Records signee with soul beyond her years. Her emotionally rich tone floats seamlessly over jazzy pads and warm subs, highlighting the album’s deeper, more introspective edge. It's a clear high point—both a statement from Bongo and a nod to Degs’ ongoing commitment to nurturing new voices in the scene.

Other guests include liquid mainstays like Hugh Hardie, Nymfo and Kimyan Law, as well as vocal icons Eva Lazarus and the Ragga Twins, whose fiery input keeps the album rooted in sound system heritage. The penultimate single “Last Orders” sees Degs reunited with NCT, this time joined by rising UK soulstress Maisy Grace. Her silky vocal cuts through with precision, as Degs lays down a lyrical performance that blends urgency with poise.

Whether you’re drawn to the heartfelt poetics, the sharp lyrical cadences, or the lush musicality that underpins it all, *If We Left This Earth* is undeniably Degs at his most complete. Equal parts personal, powerful, and packed with replay value, this is one for the headphones and the dancefloor alike.

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