60 Album reviews
ALBUMS
HIGH CONTRAST SURVIVAL VARIOUS TODDLA T VADIM
CONFIDENTIAL SURVIVAL TECTONIC PLATES VOL. 2 SKANKY SKANKY CAN’T LURN IMAGINASHUN
HOSPITAL EXIT TECTONIC 1965 BBE
High Contrast has made an enormous Survival’s top-class album shows a The second compilation from Pinch’s Sheffield scamp Toddla T’s debut 2008 was a tough year for respected
contribution to drum & bass since sureness of touch that reveals great Bristol-based Tectonic label features LP celebrates contemporary bass hip-hop agitator Vadim (he survived
appearing on the scene in 2001. experience and huge musical skill. tracks from almost all dubstep’s music and nods to the city’s history eye cancer) and this life-affirming
The first of two CDs is essentially a Survival’s sound is similar to former heavyweight producers. Highlights in- of bleeptronica. Sluggish jungle, album seems to be the highs to
best-of, tracking the biggest tracks collaborators such as Break and clude Martyn’s funky opener ‘Yet’ and bashment (celebrating rice and peas), these lows. Vadim dazzles with a
that ‘Welsh wonder’ Lincoln Barrett Silent Witness – crisp breaks and Skream’s ‘Trapped In a Dark Bubble’, half step d&b, electro bass, two kaleidoscope of backdrops: reggae,
has unleashed in his packed career. deep bass combine with a wide range which shows Skream doing what he step-deep house are served up for an 70s funk, dub electro, sunny golden
Suffice to say, there’s not a weak of musical instruments and styles. does best – building synth lines and Artic Monkey, Tinchy Stryder, Roots era hip hop, cosmic soul and lover’s
tune among them. Dedicated fans will The best tracks, for instance ‘Feelings heavy bass. Benga’s ‘Technocal’ is a Manuva, Hot Chip, Herve and his rock are topped with international rap
be most interested in CD2 however, Gone’, weld jazzy vocal hooks from bouncy, gritty workout, while Pinch’s faithful cheeky ragga MCs Serocee (French, English), myriad soulstresses
which features all his best remixes, singer Christina Nicola with live own, hypnotic contribution, ‘Joyride’, and Mr Versatile to run riot over. and reggae toasting. Clearly Vadim’s
freshly remastered. Again it’s pure saxophone. Elsewhere, flutes and sums up the label’s sound – deep, Overall ‘Skanky Skanky’ is bass pres- a global citizen and has conjured an
quality from start to finish. For so- electric guitar combine in the funky, masterful dubstep from an imprint at sure meets party vibes with a cheeky album bursting with a joie de vivre
called ‘uplifting jungle’, High Contrast cinematic roller ‘Still Don’t Know’. the height of its powers. smirk and knowing wink. that’s a rarity in hip-hop.
can’t be beaten. Top notch.
ENDEMIC RUPERT VARIOUS ILL LOGIC & RAF DUBTERROR
TERMINAL ILLNESS JUST WOKE UP DEEP MEDI VOL. 1 DARKNESS AT NOON DUBTERROR
NO CURE HEAR TODAY DEEP MEDI BINGO UNIVERSAL EGG
An accomplished debut album from Having gone off the radar since his ‘... Deep Medi’s the label of Mala Ill Logic & Raf’s debut album is a raw, Dubterror’s debut album blends the
UK producer Enedmic who comes On Zebra’ album, UK rapper Rup (now (Digital Mystikz) who is just about dense and at times grimey affair. production techniques of modern
correct on ‘Terminal Illness’. Having Rupert), reappears with his new LP the most spiritual and soulful guy in The producers clearly have no love dubstep with the finest of roots reg-
found success on both sides of the ‘Just Woke Up’. Moving even further dubstep. Hence this is a collection for sterile, over-polished samples, gae traditions. Tracks like ‘Shinobi’,
pond, he enlists the assistance of away from traditional notions of hip of deep, positive dubstep vibrations instead using natural, crunchy featuring superb vocals from Echo
US rappers Sean Price, Rustie Jaxx hop, he enlists the help of producers (as opposed to say Caspa & Rusko’s cymbals and building up complex Ranks, testify to the timeless appeal
and Planet Asia alongside UK spitters such as Naim, Bonobo and The Evil comedystep) – reggae chords, sonic textures. As well as deep drum of the format, which Dubterror clearly
M9 and Cyrus Malachi from Triple Sun who inject proceedings with a Indian and Chinese strings, a snake & bass, there are several hip-hop knows inside out. Elsewhere, Warrior
Darkness. With slick production val- decidedly leftfield feel. Rupert is still charmer’s flute are painstakingly tracks, including a funky collaboration Queen strikes an unexpectedly
ues throughout, this record may have bang on point, an adept and humor- arranged around cosy, thrusting sub with Stamina MC that presents a mournful note with her appearance
a smooth veneer but the lyrics pull ous lyricist with a seriously tight flow. bass. Loefah’s Disko Rekah, a rapstep compelling critique of the state of on ‘Reload Warrior’. Dubterror reveals
no punches, constantly challenging in Definitely worth checking. anthem and precursor to Lil Wayne, today’s D&B scene. Ill Logic & Raf are his reggae roots with the use of
true hip hop fashion. This is straight Snoop and Pharrell’s recent dubstep producers carrying on the very best Casio-style piano sounds and drum
out to the underground heads. excursion, is the exception to this traditions of jungle. machine percussion that most dub-
sublime compilation of meditational step producers wouldn’t touch.
holistic dance music.
ROB SPARX BIG IN THE GAME VARIOUS LYNX & KEMO MACC & DGOHN
TROOPER DRUM & BASS LIQUID ALLSORTS VOL. 1 THE RAW TRUTH SOME SHIT SAAINK
Z AUDIO HARMLESS ALLSORTS SOUL:R SUBTLE AUDIO
Despite moments of darkness, This two-CD set is a ‘best of the best’ It’s a fact of nature that liquid drum & Lynx’s minimal, glitchy style has Sometimes called ‘drum-funk’,
‘Trooper’ is an uplifting selection, D&B compilation, presenting four bass sounds better when the sun is its detractors, and not everyone Macc and dgoHn’s style is all about
veering at times toward post-garage tracks each from six of the scene’s shining, so Allsorts is right on target will enjoy Kemo’s unusual brand of off-kilter rhythms and jarring drum
and the Burial-esque sound. The biggest producers. Andy C, Zinc and to release its first mix CD to coincide half-rap, half-spoken word political textures. Including collaborations
tunes are confident and self-assured, Calibre take care of the first disc, with the British summer. A-Sides critique. But there’s no denying that dating back some six years, this joint
displaying flashes of beauty in while Goldie, Chase & Status and has definitely covered all the liquid this is a unique and complex album album features dazzling drum work
Sparx’s choice of vocal fragments High Contrast control disc two. As bases – strings, piano samples and that deserves repeated listenings. All mixed with atmospheric soundscapes
and distant dub samples. This is a you’d expect, this release is packed soul vocal chops are all here, and but three of the tracks have vocals, that veer between the disturbing and
great album, representing a new level with classics, from ‘Terminator’ by the selection is awash with catchy and Lynx chops and changes sounds the uplifting. Macc and dgoHn are
of maturity for the dubstep sound. Goldie’s Rufige Kru to Calibre and liquid hooks, a great example being at a restless pace, borrowing from masters at manipulating drum breaks
Sparx keeps it basic, heavy and deep, High Contrast’s superb collaboration, Mutated Forms’, ‘Should I’. However, D&B, hip hop and more. With its and each have an uncompromising
blending influences both old and new ‘Mr Majestik’. A perfect introduc- it’s the tunes that vary the liquid for- eerie orchestral passages, dense approach to music. There’s a lot more
to create a simple, unpretentious tion for ravers keen to enlarge their mat that really stand out, for instance production and genre-exploding than meets the eye, or ear, with this
masterpiece. knowledge of D&B’s best tracks. Heist’s superb ‘Bomb Jack’. arrangements, this album is destined complex album.
to have a lasting influence.
www.kmag.co.uk
K52-59_Reviews.indd 60 29/4/09 13:18:38
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