An anomaly in jungle, English producer Photek has never DJed, nor does he frequent clubs. Thankfully for us, the longtime producer expends most of his energy crafting his aggressive-yet-mentally-rousing brand of drum 'n' bass--which he often compares to martial arts. Exhilarating every time.

Though Goldie became the first superstar of jungle, the recordings of Rupert Parkes a/k/a Photek have firmly established him as one of the scene?s most innovative and revolutionary artist.

Photek?s early sounds pushed the boundaries of drum?n?bass and jungle, earning him an unrivalled reputation as one of the originators of a now Global scene. In a musical climate that is quick to imitate, few have maintained the individuality of Photek, and even fewer have been able to reinvent themselves while still keeping a strong connection with their early fans.

Photek?s last outing, Form & Function Vol.1 seemed to imply a sequel, but according to Parkes, this was never really on the agenda. Until now, that is. If Vol. 1 was a snapshot of a particular moment, FF2 promises more in terms of new material and heavyweight collaborations.

Bowing to pressure, Saturated Hip Hop and One Nation are finally dragged from the dubplate archives and onto the ?grooves? of the CD. More stand outs: Love & War, which features some epic classical strings, vocals by Chiara, timely lyrical content and a Hochi remix that flips the track into a ruthlessly tear out anthem. Also from Hochi comes Full Spectrum Dominance ? a full on assault with echoes of the classic Photek sound and the venomous Sidewinder remix.

Tech Itch is also on top form, with his remix of Baltimore and the icy cold collaboration with Photek and TeeBee on Man Down. TeeBee then goes one step further by confronting his nemesis on Ni Ten Ichi Ryu, handling the challenge with class and precision. The pure energy of the DJ Die & Clipse remix of Thunder reinforces the alliance with the Full Cycle family and is a long awaited arrival on its own right.

Not content to rest, Photek is sure to cover all fronts with three additional new offerings: the shear firepower of Deadly Technology; the liquid flow of Things featuring Robert Owens; and the Pink Floyd?esque Industry of Noise.

All in all, Form and Function Vol. 2 surpasses Vol. 1 in almost every way. Whether you are looking for classic Photek or awaiting the next chapter Form & Function 2 delivers the goods.