Three jungle singles under the microscope: Stretch, Lemon & Mint, New Decade

David Hickling (Junglist Network) shares his monthly overview: soul-jungle on AKO Beatz, Lisbon experimentation at AMEN Lisboa, a return to the 90s lineage on Out Of Romford. Here's what he takes away from it.

The mood of the month

Three jungle singles, three indie labels that don't play the same card: the AKO Beatz house with its sound-system DNA, AMEN Lisboa pushing a Portuguese collective on the experimental side, and Out Of Romford putting the record back in the 90s machine. David Hickling, a regular writer for Junglist Network, reviewed them on July 29. We relay his verdict track by track - listening with headphones is up to you.

Stretch - « Without You » (AKO Beatz)

Released a few weeks before the review on AKO Beatz, the track by legendary producer Stretch (in collaboration with a lesser-known name) samples a 1982 soul track by Marlena Shaw. Signature: "signature deep heavy sustained sub basslines", according to Hickling - sustained, long, deep subs, in line with the sound-system sound that the label has been defending since forever. The reviewer isolates a mid-track breakdown as a highlight and qualifies the whole as "soulful" and "elegant". His recommendation is clear: fans of soul and rare groove, this single is for you.

Hickling's Verdict: a must-listen for the soul-jungle ear.

Lemon & Mint - « Giant Spear » (AMEN Lisboa)

The Lisbon-based label AMEN Lisboa continues its way by pushing Lemon & Mint on this "Giant Spear", first available as a digital exclusive on Beatport a few weeks before the review. Hickling describes the track as "atmospheric and conceptual": a combination of ambient and classic breaks from the jungle canon - "Soulpride" and "Think", two foundational breaks of the genre. He praises "sharp attention to detail" and a well-maintained tropical forest atmosphere. Friendly reservation slipped at the end of the review: that the collective focuses more on jungle and lets go a bit of its forays into other genres.

Hickling's Verdict: solid on this release; collective to watch.

New Decade - « Past Tense » (Out Of Romford)

Vinyl released at the end of 2025 on Out Of Romford, digital release in July 2026. Hickling hears a "sleekly produced track" with a "modern-day jungle" feel while the aesthetic remains anchored in the 1990s codes - the kind of track that reassures without being boring. He points out the precision of the internal structure ("not a second wasted") and the DJ potential of the breakbeat, tailored for transitions.

Hickling's Verdict: solid, made for mixing.

What we take away at DBN Link

Three singles, three trajectories: AKO Beatz holds the soul-jungle line inherited from the sound system, AMEN Lisboa experiments from Lisbon while embracing ambient, Out Of Romford recycles the 90s lineage without falling into sterile nostalgia. In one month, we have an honest snapshot of the underground jungle single in 2026 - the old houses and the new ones rub against the same vocabulary (sub, canonical breaks, breakdowns) but each with its own grammar. The full review, and especially the listening, are at Junglist Network.