DUBSTEPREVIEWS Maxsta
I Wanna Rock Just Jam/RCA 8.0
This is the first signing by SBTV’s Jamal Edwards to his new imprint under the watchful auspices of major RCA. Maxsta has bubbled nicely on the underground for the past couple of years. This is his dynamite tune to break into the mainstream. Sampling Rob Base’s seminal ‘It Takes Two’, and pinching that explosive energy for maximum effect, this has the same chemistry as Dizzie and Tinie to make it big.
My Nu Leng
Damp LNUK 7.5
Trevino
Discovery SoulR
8.5
Marcus Intalex under his alternative guise dropping some non d&b and bringing his wealth of production knowledge and musical ear to play via Trevino. And it’s clear to hear a devastatingly good blend of influences and styles permeating through the likes of ‘Lag’ and ‘Discovery’, the two stand-out tracks on this four-tracker. The first is a shifting, mutating beasty, with punchy 4/4 drums and an almost live electric bassline, with the synths flitting around it. ‘Discovery’ is more epic, the stabby keys helping build an infectious momentum.
This production duo continue to operate across other sides of the UK, one based in Bristol, the other in the capital of London, but it doesn’t seem to be harming their output one bit. ‘Damp’ is tough, minimal and aggressively bass-driven. Last Japan switches up the bassline pattern on his remix, adding a screeching synthline and arpeggio electronics for a touch of colour. But head for the understated and brooding B-side ‘Waltaknocks’, it pumps!
Caspa feat Keith Flint
War Virgin/Dub Police 4.0
Sounding like a very poor, rather bland and distinctly unbuttered John Lydon, the Prodigy’s front man teams up with one of dubstep’s earliest producers for a rather contrived rock/dubstep crossover. Pissy guitars, shallow drums and the notably missing wall of sound that Liam Howlett would conjure effortlessly, this sadly lacks the depth and sheer brutality of classic Prodigy, which is the yardstick of quality beating ‘War’ into a bloody, whimpering pulp.
Bobby Champs
Drag Queen Pictures Music 7.5
Three tracks called ‘Drag Queen’, ‘Latte’ and ‘Charlie’, could well be the addictive vices of Mr Bobby Champs; I’m sure they would be if you were out jackin’ hard to his EP of quirky-but-tough house. Mutating, scratchy synths rasp throughout ‘Drag Queen’, getting squeezed and abused throughout. ‘Latte’ is a little more Berlin, but the decaying dub effects are overwhelmed by a big, filtering stabby synthline that drags you about. Concluding with ‘Charlie’ which pumps away with fizz and fuzz.
058 Martin Kemp
German Salad EP Frijsfo Beats 6.5
As the younger bro of Rinse FM’s Brackles and a member of the Blunted Robots crew alongside Mickey Pearce, Mr Kemp keeps fine company, and two tough acts to follow! This three-tracker is pretty solid: crisp, post-dubstep beats with a whirlygig of influences spinning around, as is the fashion these days. Hints of garage, dashes of house and techno in a fuzzy hybrid state, but needing a touch more pizzazz to make it truly memorable.
Om Unit
Aeolin EP Civil 7.0
Sometimes it takes a crackin’ remix to make you revisit the original. The first couple of listens of the lead track, ‘Ulysses’, on this EP slipped by like a soft summer’s breeze, unnoticed. Then Reso unleashed his wildest drum programming tirade on it, with Sweatson Klank chipping in a pretty good effort also, to force me back to the original and its stabby pads and dystopian synth lines with half-step/double time patterns to soak up once more, and conclude that it’s, ya know, pretty good. Terror Danjah
Dark Crawler feat Riko Dan Hyperdub
8.0 There seems to be a divide over this track. A few heads are into it. Others not. Which I find very perplexing, as it’s bloody EVIL! It’s not enough that Terror pulls out a bashment smashing riddim full of cheap computer game horns, machine gun fire drums and murder serious bass, but the London city War Lawwwrd, Mr Riko Dan himself, powers through with a ton of frankly shit-your-pants bars! Shame it’s only 2:43 long! Flip it for ‘Fruit Punch’, a pretty tasty B-side also.
www.djmag.com Alex D. Wolf
Magik EP Rebel Hill Recordings 7.5
An interesting little EP from this Denver producer, offering a world of deft
syncopation, solid bass and blunted electronica, fitting snugly into this post-dubstep world of ours.
J:Kenzo
Invaderz Tempa 8.0
Big halfstep beasties from the UK here, ‘Invaderz’ creeps and menaces, but it’s ‘Depth Charge’ which pulls out the leng and shanks you in the neck. Pow!
MARKLE58a Tetherdown, London, N10 1NG
QUICKIES Major Look
Bass Generation London Records 3.0
The original is just about bearable crossover popstep, but I wanted to throw the CD out of the window when the frankly ridiculous Tomba remix came on.
Reggae Roast feat Earl 16
Occupy The Session Reggae Roast 6.0
Modern roots and culture with a sparkling summer vibe, if there ever was one. Earl drops a sweet vocal of dancehall stories over a Moodie and Manasseh riddim, with two bouncing remixes from Adam Prescot and Black Butter Recs.
MY NU LENG LNUK
01. MY NU LENG ‘Damp’ LNUK “Our debut 12” out now on LNUK Records and also featuring Last Japan’s
remix of the title track.”
02. WEN ‘Spark It’ Dub “We love Wen’s production and this track stands out. Stripped-out drums
with a devastating b-line. Instant reload business!” 03. DISCLOSURE ‘What’s In Your Head (Mak & Pasteman
Remix)’ Greco Roman “Been opening with this a lot recently. Mak & Pasteman utilise those catchy vocals perfectly, adding a solid 808 backdrop. Wicked remix.”
04. DUSKY ‘Flo Jam’ Dogmatik “Needs no explanation, everything in this track just works perfectly.”
05. TROY GUNNER ‘Headlights’ The Crescent “Troy’s definitely got his own sound down to a tee.”
06. KILLJOY ‘Tiki’ Dub “A different direction from a well-known producer and amazing vibes on this
tune. If you’ve caught any of our sets recently, you would have heard this.”
07. J-ONE ‘Sacred’ Dub “Dark little roller from a ridiculously talented producer. Haunting vocals and
tribal percussion, every track this guy makes is just stunning.” 08. DJRUM ‘Mountains Pt.1 (Pedestrian’s Pirate Radio
Remix)’ 2nd Drop “Loved the original and Pedestrian’s remix fully delivers, that bassline goes off every time!”
09. MY NU LENG ‘The Grid’ Dub “Something new from us on a sub-heavy 4/4 vibe.”
10. MAJORA ‘Shook’ Dub “A good friend and one of our favourite producers. ‘Shook’ is strictly for the
dancefloor, fusing grime with funky and house influences.”
MONEYSHOT!
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