Hello,
In the disparate world of bass music, dubstep has unravelled itself in multiple directions. This month, this is no better demonstrated as one of dubstep's most unique pioneers Shackleton returns with two killer EPs on Honest Jon's. Also on the radar are great new EPs from Falty DL, Kowton, Cosmin TRG and Badawi, new talent Duffstep's cosmic downtempo first album, and not forgetting James Blake's much talked about debut.
Our brand-new City Focus: Bristol podcast presents yet another opportunity to reflect on dubstep's short but intense history. Two giants of the scene, Pinch and Headhunter, are interviewed amidst tracks by Peverelist, RSD, Guido and Orphan101, giving an overview of one of the truly integral cities in the development of the genre. |
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Following his epic 75-minute Fabric mix of last year, Shackleton lets two gripping EPs loose side-by-side on Honest Jon's. One of these, 'Fireworks' presents a new track as well as some exceptional remixes by T++ and Mordant Music, proving how flexible the term 'dubstep' has become.
Whereas his Fabric mix evoked primal forces in its rhythmical wickedness over its duration, 'Fireworks' unsettles with its extreme spaciousness. Shackleton's trademark doom-laden percussion drives the track whilst its title is reflected in the spectacular snaking rushes of noise.
Former remix partner T++ returns, using an older alias with his 'Aussen Vor' remix referring to a Dynamo EP from the 90s. Reinventing the track with clusters of bone-dry percussion, T++ shifts the original into a creaking, writhing reincarnation.
'Undeadman' sees Shackleton wonkily resurrecting 'Deadman' as featured in the other simultaneous release on Honest Jon's. Rearranging its elements almost completely, only its hypnotic vocal hook is left as a distinguishingable trace.
Finally, the Mordant Music remix undertaken by Baron Mordant piles up luscious noisy-synth beams before deconstructing the track into beautifully discordant squeaks and loops. Evoking the bizarrest of nightmares, as the Mordant Music label has always excelled in, this is a brilliant end to an all-round stunning release from some of the most stimulating minds in electronic music at the moment.
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MORE DUBSTEP ESSENTIALS
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Taking 'Deadman' from his highly-acclaimed Fabric mix, Shackleton's hissing and sizzling percussive finery is twice reworked by Kevin Martin. The King Midas Sound remix imbues a beautiful desolate atmosphere with Hitomi's vocals, whilst The Bug's version fixes further beat abstractions to it. Very fine.
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London's Jeremy Duffy makes his bid for the stars in his debut album, blending his influences of dub, funk, soul and downtempo. From the funking 'Love The Freak' to the heady bliss of 'Happy Days', Duffstep creates cosmic concoctions of beaming synths, fuzzy basslines and utopic beats. Delightful.
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Badawi opens the first release in the Agriculture's new Bass Blood Line Series. Deeply engrained with a dark and beautiful dub mystique as ever, it couldn't fit this series better with title track 'The Axiom' demonstrating his finely crafted power. Excellent remixes by Andy Stott and Vaccine. Amazing EP.
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Killer new track from New York's FaltyDL with gut-bending multi-directional rhythms under unforgettable aching vocal hooks in deadly combo, building on the darn brilliant 'Phreqaflex' EP from last year. Jamie XX does a fine job on the remix, adding dynamic drops and a fruity bassline. Massive!
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Cranking out his very fine harder techno style again, Cosmin TRG's latest EP divulges from his recent housier outings on Rush Hour. The dry, quaking big room techno with muddy undercurrents of 'Separat' is counter-balanced by the wickedly spiked-synth punisher 'Izolat'. Excellent.
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dBridge's Exit Records presents a massive 22 track compilation dedicated to deep and cutting-edge sounds on the border of dubstep and drum'n bass. With everyone from Scuba, Instra:mental, and Synkro to Commix, ASC, and Skream aboard, this is a must, not only for Autonomic fans!
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The first part of All City's new 'Collabs' series has technostep master Martyn side with hip-hop experimentalist Mike Slott. 'All Nights' is a killer house track with a percussive dupstep groove beneath its Shed-style chords, which his followed by 'Pointing Fingers', a playfully abstract downbeat exercise in a FlyLo vein.
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Napalm Death/Godflesh/Techno Animal veteran Justin K Broadrick returns with a new Pale Sketcher EP on Ghostly, taking his sound from euphoric drone dubstep to reflective, guitar-plucking downbeat electronica across four tracks and a spine-chilling, earth-shaking King Midas Sound remix. Weighty!
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After their debut release on Hyperdub last year North London production duo Ill Blu head for Numbers this time around with their 'Meltdown EP': Three tracks of hard-hitting funky house, combining Kwaito-inspired percussions with ravesignals and chipsounds abound. Heavy!
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Maxi-Single released 11-02-2011 on Tectonic
Illum Sphere lands on Tectonic with a bang: 'Dreamstealin' could be a piece of grain-synthesised neo-classical music, if it wasn't for the junglistic dubstep beats that convert to hip-hop breaks after the break. Backed by the wonky 'Blood Music' and an Indigo remix. Unique and recommended!
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Bristol's shooting star Kowton takes his sound into a great new direction with his second single for Idle Hands, infusing his dubstep grooves with bleepy Chicago house. 'She Don't Jack' is a sparse and sub-bass heavy workout, while 'Drunk On Sunday', known from his RA podcast, lets loose the 808. Ace.
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A promising debut collaboration between Consequence and Joe Seven on Autonomic. 'Pure Palms' is as lush as it sounds with snickering percussive licks over smooth synths. On the B-side, a cinematic expanse unfurls, evoking exotic landscapes in their modern interpretation of d'n'b. Solid.
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Following on from his impressive 'Live For Never' debut LP, Consequence lands with another haunting single of modern d'n'b on Exit Records. 'Snakes & Skulls' spits and crackles a Burial-type gloom sharpened with a techier edge whilst 'Dub Bounce' harnesses a lethal bass in a luscious claustrophobia. Top.
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Shigeto's glistening fantasy-rich debut album gets a thorough remix treatment. Mike Slott's is smooth and flowing with iridescent atmospherics, Samiyam cranks up the slo-funk factor while Take, Om Unit and Charles Trees provide excellent unhurried spins on Shigeto's original visions. Sweet!
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The jittering electro-workout of 'OFI' from the reformed Model 500 late last year is given contrasting remixes from two young UK talents. First up hip-hop experimentalist Bullion turns the original into a comic-strip Dilla-esque explosion, before cosmonaut SDC steers it smoothly towards planet funk. Ace.
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After an impressive debut album, Bulgarian shooting stars 1000names return with another EP on Black Acre. Rolling broken hip-hop rhythms and cosmic synths get stuck in jammy grooves in two new tracks, with a great lo-slung electrified remix of 'Pocket Calculators' by Lynx and Hellrazor. Splendid!
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Policy follow up a first release on Car Crash Set last year with 'Speciality Party' on Amsterdam's prestigious Rush Hour imprint. The title track sets echoing vocals and lopsided melodies against a stumbling rhythmic background, while 'Lights Over Fort Lee' takes a more jazzy turn. A speciality indeed.
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Bloom turns to Gloom. Continuing his series of broken beat experiments, Aardvarck teams up with fellow Dutchman Kubus for this EP on Eat Concrete. On seven tracks in total abstract, wonky jazz-stepping by Aardvarck meets Kubus' more sinister leftfield dubstep. Recommended.
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Tectonic's Cyrus appearing on Deep Medi this time around, with 'Manhatten Blues', a lovely minimalistic dubstep piece, built around a simple chord stab and a massive subbass breakdown, and 'Decision', which rides a midrange wobble that is actually a processed vocal sample. Sick.
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Rinse.fm's DJ Jay 5ive teams up with prolific producer Kromestar (Deep Medi, Southside Dubstars) for the first release on the Bass 'N' Love imprint. 'Bass 96' and 'Hands In The Air' focus on the dub in dubstep with wobbly basslines over half-step beats, adding ska stabs and fat, luscious pads. Fresh!
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Anthemic HudMo and Lorn vibes on this newest release from Seattle's Car Crash Set imprint, Sentinels' 'Shimmer / Valentine'. Its neon-coloured eurodance synths and massive bass drops are so totally over the top, they're guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Hands in the air!
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A furious EP of superior d'n'b from UK talent Tom Rockwell. Title track 'Aria' uses a This Mortal Coil sample amongst the barest trimmed percussion to killer effect, a staggering collaboration with Untold bounces dextrously off the walls and a punishing Ulterior Motive remix rounds it off darkly. Incredible!
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