As the debut artist albums from Alix Perez (1984) and Sub Focus (Sub Focus) battle it out in the D&B downloads charts for pole position, elsewhere in the scene eyes have turned toward Chase & Status, as they embark on their worldwide live tour, featuring Andy Gangadeen from The Bays on drums, and, most recently, to the online forums, over the controversial Mistabishi debacle.

That aside, we’ve also had some cutting edge stuff courtesy of Ninja Tune’s King Cannibal, with his Let The Night Roar album, as well as several spectacular albums in the latter half of the month — the Critical Sounds EP, Viper’s Acts of Mad Men LP, the illustrious 15 Years of Metalheadz, and the DJ Marky & Friends present: Makoto mix CD.

But that’s not just to say it’s been a month characterized by album launches, there has, as ever, been some cracking 12”s that have hit the shelves this month – think Ink & Perpetum, Nero, Goldie and Commix, Spectrasoul and The Upbeats just to mention a few, plus some quality remixes from Danny Byrd, Matrix and Shock One.

So, here are the top 10 D&B releases for the month:

1. Sub Focus / “Splash” (Ram)
Sub Focus’ debut artist album is a big, big look for Ram Records and “Splash” is a particular highlight that encapsulates all of SF’s eclectic electronic influences. It’s got a deceptively gentle intro with crescendo-like smattering drums and tripping synths, which gives way to a tremendous smashing riff with live guitar, dramatic walls of synths and pounding b-line action. Guaranteed to blow you away.

2. Alix Perez feat. Peven Everett & Ursula Rucker / “Forsaken” (Shogun Audio)
And, as the Monty Python boys say, “now for something completely different,” enter Mr Perez. Keeping it deep, soulful and ever so smooth, Perez takes us away on a journey filled with punchy beats, crisp sounds, gorgeous piano keys and orchestral samples. Featuring vocals from house legend, Even Peverett and urban poet, Ursula Rucker, the track is an absolute beauty, and again, acts as nice sampler from his album, 1984. Listen and appreciate, and then listen, and learn some more.

3. Goldie & Commix / “Envious” (Metalheadz)
Undoubtedly one of the best singles I’ve heard in a long time, two great forces in the world of D&B team up for a 12” that’s poised, powerful and captivating in every way. Haunting synths, anguished vocals and a raw, rough-and-ready aggressive approach, with subtle orchestral samples are the name of the game here. It’s classic Metalheadz, and what’s more, the flipside is just as engaging. I’m absolutely obsessed – rewiiiiiind!

4. Makoto / “Good Old Days” (Innerground)
Japan isn’t perhaps the first place you think of when you think of D&B. Yet, rising star Makoto has proven that he’s more than competent on the decks, in the lab – crikey, is there anything this guy can’t do!? Snapped up by Marky for the second installment of his DJ Marky & Friends Presents… series, this track is a lovely rattling, musical slice of high calibre D&B by Makoto himself. Lovely stuff.

5. Rockwell / “Underpass” (Critical Music)
Every so often a new artist comes along and becomes the new buzzword of the D&B scene. At the moment, that person is Rockwell. He’s certainly captured the attention of Critical Music’s head honcho, and A&R expert, Kasra (which in itself says a lot), and this track, Underpass, which is featured on the newly released Critical Sounds EP really showcases his talents. It’s a pared down, minimal production with a spellbinding soundscape, punctuated by suckerpunch beats and sweeping atmospherics and subtle glitchy moments.

6. Mistabishi / “From Memory” (Matrix RMX) (Hospital)
Regardless of the latest furor re: Mistabishi, this remix by the almighty Matrix (first heard on Hospital’s This Is Drum + Bass last month) has been absolutely killing it recently. Matrix has given the original “From Memory” a bit of wash and brush up, with some chunky synths, battering drums and a dash of head-nodding panache, shaping it up into a top-notch NHS anthem.

7. King Cannibal / “Aragami Style” (Ninja Tune)
One of my favorite producers at the moment, King Cannibal’s unique production style, full of genre-crossovers, aggressive dubstep-sounding, D&B-influenced dark, twisted beats and cinematic atmospherics and ominous vocal sampling is an absolute must for those who, in the words of Dynamite MC, like your beats dirrrrty! “Aragami Style” is full of rumbling, cavernous bass, hard hitting drum stabs and eerie echoes, and is taken from his recent album, Let The Night Roar, which is an absolute killer.

8. The Upbeats / “Binge Drinker” (Lifted Music)
The Upbeats seem to be the proverbial kings of the castle where the sudden storm of New Zealand-based producers in the D&B scene are concerned. And what a riot they’ve been causing! “Binge Drinker” is an aggressive, explosive ball of frenetic energy with pummelling relentless drums, subterranean subs and spooky atmospherics. A big shout out goes out to their remix of Ewun’s “Screw Up,” on the flip — these boys know what they’re doing. Hold tide though, there’s plenty more in the pipeline from The Upbeats, with their album Big Skeleton due out in nay but a month’s time.

9. Shimon, Moving Fusion & Ant Miles / “Pimp Slap” (Audio Porn)
It’s another cheeky, high-energy production from Shimon’s Audio Porn imprint, as the two Ram trilogy members make room for Moving Fusion, and get ready to assault the airwaves with “Pimp Slap.” Crisp drums, bleepy synths and textured atmospherics give way to a warped drop with a funky twist and plenty of momentum to rock the floor til the early hours. Nice.

10. Commix / “Be True” (Metalheadz)
What’s that you say? Heard this before? Of course you have. It’s just that it’s also been featured on the illustrious 15 Years of Metalheadz album, and, as the final track of a superb retrospective look at one of the most respected labels in the industry, I thought we should all take a moment and give it some rep. Gorgeous vocals, warm oozing bass, tinkling piano keys and rhythmic, steady breaks…oh, what a wonderful note to end on!