In 2008, New Zealand, and global drum and bass tragically lost one of its brightest stars, Jonathan Beck, whose production as one half of CERN had inspired and moved people the world over. This is our tribute to Jonathan Ricky James Beck...

Agent Alvin has been making waves in New Zealand and around the world for a while now with releases on labels like Full Cycle, Hospital and, most recently, Viper Recordings. Hiding away in Raglan to concentrate on his music and go fishing, he has blessed us with a new studio mix of upfront selections including a number of his own forthcoming tunes.

The hardest working man in drum & bass television, Joachim from Serious Business, has posted a new video online for our viewing pleasure. This latest installment takes us aboard Summer Nights, a boat party organised in part by Auckland's Low Rollers crew.

Bulletproof was very busy just before the new year, releasing a music video for the single 'Dark Times' from the Album 'Dark Times - Desperate Measures'. The track and the video both feature Tiki.

Camo MC writes: Aotearoa Bass Culture is THE magazine of 2009 - We represent Aotearoa Drum&Bass, Dub/Reggae, Dubstep, Hip Hop and Breakbeat, Spreading word of these sounds all across New Zealand and eventually world wide.
Currently Aotearoa Bass Culture is only distributed in Christchurch, New Zealand but we plan to have it South Island wide by the end of 2009 and I will personally be bringing the magazine up North in 2010!!

The mercury has apparently been through the roof all through the country - yet almost all the cricket in the West Indies tour was rain affected in some way!? I blame Al Gore.

Welcome back Bassdroppers (yes, you are now part of a cliqué) for the first week of 2009!