There is no question that MC Tali is one of the most groundbreaking artists in Drum and Bass. The first female MC to beat the boys at their own game, she has risen to become the true first lady of the mic on a wave of inspirational hard work and determination, thrilling live shows and anthem status releases. Having originally got her break by MCing into Roni Sizes ear in packed club, Tali has gone on to conquer not only drum an bass (winning Best Female MC at the national drum and bass awards every year since 2008) but also the charts (with Lyric On My Lip hitting the top 40, earning her a slot on Jo Whileys live lounge). Without doubt one of the most recognisable voices in DnB, her talents have taken her on countless world tours playing on every continent, from sweaty backrooms to arenas and festivals. On record, Tali has always been much in demand, being asked to work with the crème of worldwide production talent, with artists such as Redlight, EZ Rollers, Roni Size, DJ Marky, Camo & Krooked, DJ Die and The Freestylers all banging down her door for collaborations. In 2010, Tali took a rare break from touring and got back in the studio to record her sophomore album, Dark Days, High Nights. From the very start, her idea behind the project had always been to enlist her favourite producers from around the world to collaborate on an album that would push her songwriting and their production talents to the limit. This has led to mouthwatering cast list with artists such as Benny Page, Dirtyphonics, Shimon, SKisM, Ed Rush, Atlantic Connection, Lynx and Sparfunk all providing production for the album. Available on download and limited edition vinyl from 18th April, this sampler showcases the first two tracks to be released from the new album which will be released in the second half of 2011. A: Dark Days As a member of one of the UKs most respected and legendary DnB partnerships, Ed Rush has for over a decade been responsible for some of the most heartstopping bass frequencies the UK has ever produced. With his Wormhole album (produced alongside longtime partner Optical) regularly cited as the best DnB album of all time, Ed Rush was always going to be one of the first names discussed when Tali put together her wish list for album collaborations. Taking his dark, clinically aggressive tech style down to 140bpm, Ed Rush lays the foundation down for Talis tale of life on the road intertwined with the feelings brought on by a Kiwi country girl living a twilight life in London. Melancholic, beautiful and claustrophobic in equal measure, Dark Days showcases some of the diverse moods on the new album, while also showing Talis MC skills alongside her undoubtable talent for chorus and hook. *Check out theDark Days music video on YouTube AA: Lost In The Game Hot on the heels of their huge remix of Neros 2011 smash Me & You, Dirtyphonics once again prove why they are one of the most exciting new talents in dance music in 2011. Having been repped by Tali for some time, the French foursomes production on Lost In The Game is a club-bouncing bomb of epic proportions. Underpinning Talis breathless whisper, the verse opens as a Miami bass banger, with hand claps and warping filtered low end joined by cascading electrod milk bottle rhythms before the track switches into a huge anthemic chorus and disorientating thuggish all-consuming waves of drugged out bass. Lost In The Game is once again a combination of moods and styles that shows the collaborative genre pushing powers of two artists truly at the top of their game.