Portuguese DnB Hitman Molecular Delivers A Masterclass In Minimal Roll

Portuguese DnB Hitman Molecular Delivers A Masterclass In Minimal Rollers With “One Dub” EP Via Alix Perez’s 1985 Music

Globally-renowned artist and 1985 Music label boss Alix Perez has an unmatched sixth sense for identifying and showcasing otherworldly talent. 1985 is the ultimate platform for forward-thinking music, representing artists such as Monty, Visages, Cesco, and many others that are truly pushing the boundaries in 140, drum & bass, and beyond.

Towards the end of 2025, 1985 released its latest Various Artists compilation album titled Fragments / 2, which featured several label debuts. One of the debuts that generated a lot of positive buzz was Porto, Portugal’s very own Rafael Pinto, better known as Molecular in the underground drum & bass scene. He made quite the statement on the album with his track “Crowd Control”, offering new listeners a taste of his signature funky, raw sound design.

The momentum from Molecular’s 1985 debut has carried over into 2026 in a tremendous way. In the final days of January, Molecular released his first EP with the label titled One Dub. The four-track project is not only 1985’s first release of the year, but a sign of incredible things to come this year from both the label and Molecular.

Diving into the EP, it’s clear to see why Molecular returned to 1985 so quickly. One Dub starts with “Cold Classic”, an appropriately-named track given the crazy winter weather that most of the U.S. experienced last month. Listeners are immediately reintroduced to Molecular’s authentic approach to sound design and drum work, which brilliantly hits the senses from all angles. This is a common theme in Molecular’s compositions, aimed at lighting up the dance floor whenever they are played.

Moving into the second and title track, “One Dub”, Molecular provides minimal, dubbed out gold. There’s something about minimal rollers that excites me to no end. As Molecular stated himself in an Instagram post, “My obsession with dub has always been quite strong, I’ve always tried to channel that into the studio!” It’s safe to say he succeeded in doing just that with this track. This is one of those tracks that begs to be played on the finest sound systems available.

Molecular keeps the foot on the gas with the third track, “Sisyphus”. The raw nature of this track lands a serious uppercut. If you haven’t figured it out by now, Molecular does an unbelievable job at keeping listeners moving and engaged by providing deep, rolling bass lines and razor-sharp drums. The One Dub EP concludes with “Bad Boy”, leaving listeners with a final signature heater that shakes the core.

The One Dub EP represents everything that I personally love about this subgenre of drum & bass. The authenticity, depth, and texture are felt throughout the entire project, leaving listeners hungry for more. Be sure to check out the full EP at the end of the article!

If Molecular has not been on your radar, he most certainly should be! Outside of his recent involvement with 1985 Music, Molecular has been featured on other forward-thinking labels such as DLR’s Sofa Sound Bristol, Overview Music, Critical Sound, Flexout Audio, and more. His Fair Warning EP on Overview was one of my favorite projects of 2025 and played out by some of the biggest names across the festival and club circuits. When it comes to timeless anthems, Molecular checks all of the boxes.

Beyond his solo project, Molecular has also been making waves with his drum & bass super team project, Business As Usual, which also includes the aforementioned DLR as well as the ingenious UK duo Genic. They have been on a generational run over the last year with their releases, including “Take Control” featuring Aria, “Midnight Roller”, as well as addictive bootlegs of “Light Up Your Spliff” by The Bush Chemists and “Denial Is A River” by Doechii. Most recently, they released “Did You Really” on the prominent label, Shogun Audio, featuring vocals from Oktae. This is the first single from their forthcoming Rave Days EP.

Molecular also helps run Forbidden Frequencies, a label based out of his hometown of Porto, with his friend, Pedro. Forbidden Frequencies is a fantastic platform for discovering what’s new and fresh in the world of drum & bass. Not only does it regularly spotlight and host new singles, but it also features a great podcast and guest mix series, featuring some of the very best in the business.

For the producers out there, Molecular has got you covered with a wide range of resources to take your tracks to the next level. If you go to his official website, you’ll find plenty of sample packs, Ableton racks, presets, Patreon content, and so much more. He just recently put out a brand new drum pack titled “Essential Roller Drums”. Be sure to check it out!

We can’t wait to hear what’s next from Molecular in 2026 and beyond. What was your favorite track from the One Dub EP? Let us know in the comments below or on our social media!

Stream One Dub EP: SoundCloud | Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music

Support Molecular: Instagram | Facebook | SoundCloud | Bandcamp | Spotify | Patreon

Back to blog

Item added to your cart