After years of unforgettable releases on the mighty Hospital Records, Cambridge-raised producer Hugh Hardie, having recently made the move over to Soulvent Records, prepares to deliver his third and arguably most exciting album to date in Juicebox. With the tone set by the first two singles ‘Blush’ featuring Zara Kershaw and ‘Face Off’ with PAV4N of Foreign Beggars, ‘Juicebox’ highlights the remarkable extent of Hugh’s musical prowess and boasts a wealth of rich collaborations, including the likes of Footsie, Degs, Killa P and more.

Album opener ‘RWTS’ sees Hugh team up with label-mates In:Most and the unmistakable vocal talents of Kojo. The result is a sultry, techy liquid roller, brought together with Kojo’s effortless tone and palpable emotion. On ‘Test This’ Hugh allies with one half of Newham Generals, aka Grime legend Footsie – whose flawless vocal delivery transforms this hard-hitting roller into a dance-floor weapon. Given this is the MC’s first 170-bpm release, we’re left with a wry smile at the prospect of further collaborations in this vein. ‘Suede’ exhibits Hugh’s instantly recognisable R’n’B flavoured keys, vocal processing and shuffly drum patterns. Complete with bounding sub-bass and intricate synth processing, this deep liquid number welcomes us into the finer side of soulful drum & bass. Meanwhile, the album’s namesake ‘Juicebox’ is a playground of powerful jungle breaks, energized synth stabs and ferocious basses.

Other notable cuts from the record include ‘Show No Love’, loaded with glistening jazz guitars and glowing vocals courtesy of Zhou. ‘Flip Switch’, once again proving Hugh to be far from a one-genre pony, effortlessly delivers UK Funky flavours with the help of a legendary mic-man, South London’s own Killa P. Midpoint track ‘Sophie (feat. Wayward)’, another alternative bpm venture, is veritably dripping with emotion with its expressive drum programming, alluring vocal chops and a chord progression that tugs on the heart strings. A true lesson in pace. ‘Glow (feat. Degs & Josh Kye)’ is an upbeat, soaring number complete with romantic pianos and an unshakeable sense of positivity. The interplay between the glossy vocals of Josh Kye and Degs is further complemented by a gospel choir introduced towards the track’s end. The penultimate track ‘Andrew’s Dream’ exhibits the sort of celestial, ethereal soundscape that the title might suggest. Ascending keys and heartfelt pads are the order of the day, backed by warm sub-bass and splashy drums.

Marking his first studio album on Soulvent, and third collectively, Hugh Hardie displays an ever-widening colour palette in ‘Juicebox’ alongside a comprehensive understanding of the tenets that define the various sub-genres across dance music. The 13-track aural playground is available from Friday the 28th of July, and we promise you, the juice is more than worth the squeeze!

Released on Soulvent Records.

H/T Soulvent Records.