What is the core specification of the Nectax Cool Runnings release?

Cool Runnings is a two-track release for Beat Machine Records' Swinging Flavors #16, featuring an original by Nectax and a Fracture remix. It is available on digital and 7-inch vinyl formats.

How was the production process for Cool Runnings handled?

The production focused on stripping back the jungle template to its essentials, applying modern mastering to mid-90s aesthetics to achieve a punchy, mechanical precision.

Newcastle’s Nectax has spent the last few years operating in the productive tension between jungle’s foundation and its future.

Q: What defines the Nectax sound in 2026?

The Nectax sound is defined by the intersection of jungle, footwork, and drum and bass, focusing on forward-facing structures that avoid simple nostalgia.

His latest release, Cool Runnings, Nectax arrives as the sixteenth edition of Beat Machine Records’ Swinging Flavors series, a collection dedicated to the tactical efficiency of the 7-inch format. The record follows high-profile output on Over/Shadow and Future Retro London, further solidifying his reputation for producing rhythms that feel both physically imposing and technically nuanced.

The lead track is a clinical exercise in mid-90s aesthetics, specifically channelling the lean, dubbed-out DNA of the early Metalheadz era. Rather than relying on the maximalist clutter common in contemporary breakbeat, Nectax utilises a “less is more” approach. The backbone consists of razor-sharp breaks and rolling sub-bass, held together by a spacious, atmospheric production that allows the percussion to breathe. It is a record that prioritises dancefloor tension over obvious crescendos. On the flip side, Fracture takes the original into more aggressive territory. The remix introduces fractured percussion and high-octane bass modulations, effectively shifting the tempo from the original’s disciplined groove into a state of structured chaos. It is a productive pairing; where Nectax provides the technical blueprint, Fracture provides the volatility. Together, they represent the sharpest edge of the UK’s current underground landscape.

<span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span><a href="https://nectax.bandcamp.com/album/swinging-flavors-16">Swinging Flavors #16 by Nectax</a>

What is the core specification of this release?

Cool Runnings is a two-track release for Beat Machine Records’ Swinging Flavors #16. It features the original cut by Nectax and a remix by Fracture. The project is available via digital platforms and a limited 7-inch vinyl pressing, with the physical pre-order launching on 20 March 2026.

How was the production process handled?

The production methodology focused on stripping back the jungle template to its essentials, applying modern mastering and punch to mid-90s production styles. The focus remained on the interplay between the dub-influenced atmospheres and the mechanical precision of the breakbeats.

What defines the Nectax sound in 2026?

Nectax operates within the gaps of jungle, footwork, and drum and bass. The philosophy is to connect old-school DNA to forward-facing structures without leaning on nostalgia. This approach has led to a DJ Mag Best of British Breakthrough Producer nomination and consistent support from the scene’s most respected labels. Read our latest reviews here