Jade / Proktah – Shift / Monakin

Jade / Proktah – Shift / Monakin

Originally released in 2009 on Close 2 Death Recordings, Shift / Monakin pairs two heavyweight tracks from Jade and Proktah, capturing the hard-edged, technical sound that defined the label's drum & bass output during the late 2000s. Released as C2D006, the 12" became part of a particularly strong period for underground neurofunk and techstep, with both tracks built squarely for the dancefloor.

Jade's “Shift” opens with heavily reverberated technical stabs and tightly programmed, steppy drums before dropping into a punishing bass-driven section. The track was described at the time as a “floor filler” and as pure neurofunk, combining precision percussion with the kind of dark, physical low-end associated with the late-2000s Close 2 Death sound.

On the flip, Proktah's “Monakin” takes a cinematic approach to its introduction, building tension before unleashing twisting, filter-driven bass and hard, heavy drums. It was Proktah's first release on Close 2 Death and had already been circulating in DJ sets before the full vinyl release, making it a strong example of the era's darker, more aggressive neurofunk aesthetic.

Together, “Shift” and “Monakin” make a compelling snapshot of the late-2000s underground drum & bass scene: dark atmospheres, intricate production, steppy rhythms and heavyweight bass pressure. For collectors of Jade, Proktah, Close 2 Death Recordings, neurofunk, techstep and darker drum & bass vinyl, this is a particularly useful 12" from the genre's 2009 period.

Side A

1. Jade – Shift

Side AA

1. Proktah – Monakin