Dubstep / Breaks / Hip Hop reviews 61
dubstep
EVS BAR 9 HOODZ MRK1 BLACK SUN EMPIRE
Let It GO / CuMuLus / dub4u IN dA MIX bAd MINd / CLAsH KILL ZONe / tuNNeL FORM tHe INVAsION / dYNeeMA
STUDIO ROCKERS AUDIOPHREAKS LO DUBS CONTAGIOUS SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE
Based in Rotterdam, EVS is a top This is heavy heavy heavy. 26 The American west coast is repre- MRK1 is doing big things at the Deep, dark and dirty is the name of
quality producer. Here he brings tracks of frontline dubstep pressure senting to full effect with 6Blocc and moment, representing Manchester the game here. Based in Utrecht in
through three tunes, each worthy of a complete with a bonus CD of unmixed U-OME combining to form Hoodz. and making up one quarter of Virus the Netherlands, Black Sun Empire
gold star. ‘Let It Go’ provides a tough tracks from Bar 9 himself, containing ‘Bad Mind’ has an old school rave Syndicate this is a producer and DJ to try their hand at dubstep with this
based ragga swagger at the start three exclusive, unreleased tracks. feel about it, rat-a-tat drums and keep an eye on. ‘Kill Zone’ is tear-up the second release on their own new
that melts away into an atmospheric This is a nice slice of all things constant bass combined with reggae business that causes carnage on the label set up to cater for their dubstep
daydreamer. ‘Cumulus’ comes with dubstep, every tune comes correct snippets and samples make this a dancefloor, with the Twilight Zone production; the outcome is impres-
a more airy feel, as the name would and it’s refreshing to have so many tough rebel skanker of a tune. ‘Clash’ sample combined with church bells sive. ‘The Invasion’ comes tough,
suggest, sci-fi bleeps and subtle 80s good beats wrapped up in one mix. provides deeper sub bass and yet and random voices create an omi- with nice use of build up that drops
style synths build the vibe. Lastly Leicester based Audiophreaks have more of the reggae samples we love, nous vibe. ‘Tunnel Form’ is on point into a heavy rolling tune. ‘Dyneema’
‘Dub4U’ brings chimes and acid come top of the pops with this little both sit nicely over the beat structure. but this plate is worth the purchase is strong too.
based noises, good for all those beauty. for ‘Kill Zone’ alone.
smoking skankers out there.
bReAKs
JACK STAT THE BREAKFASTAZ SKOOL OF THOUGHT RICO TUBBS DRUMATTIC TWINS
tHe spIRIt ACtING WRONG HeARt OF tHe HOOd / budGIe KNuCKLe sANdWICH ReMIX ep bACK tO tHe OLd sKOOL
LUCKY BREAK THE BREAKFAST CLUB sMuGGLA MENU dRuM tHuNdeR
COOL & DEADLY FINGER LICKIN
The second release on the Germany Bringing the flavour on their very own Finnish producer Rico Tubbs (aka DJ
based Lucky Break label sees duo Breakfast Club label, The Breakfastaz Cool & Deadly keep up the pressure Infekto) presents a double EP project The ever reliable Finger Lickin’ reach
Jack Stat dropping the bouncy ‘The continue their rich vein of form with with this heavyweight release from of remixes from last year’s massive their 97th (count ‘em) release with this
Spirit’. Pure dubwise vibes on this this release. On ‘Acting Wrong’ they breaks super producer Skool Of ‘Knuckle Sandwich’ LP. With EP1 offering from Drumattic Twins. ‘Back To
one, kicking off with an old skool collaborate with UK soul singer Thought. ‘Heart Of The Hood’ is a solely dedicated to house mixes, we The Old Skool’ does exactly what it says
break before a dose of seriously phat Meshach Broderick and offer up a menacing dubstep influenced monster turn our attention to EP2 which sees on the tin with arms in the air pianos
bass interrupts proceedings and main room breaks banger which with a haunting vocal sample and shuf- Jay Stewart giving ‘Gangsters’ a fresh and vocodered vocals harking back to
takes us deep into funky progressive combines all the regular Breakfastaz fling drums underpinned by a seriously lick of paint and Splitloop doing the the boys’ early 90s heyday as Shades
breaks territory. DJ Fixx’s relick is an elements of funkiness and phatness grimy bassline. Worth buying for the breaks honours on ‘The Party’. Also Of Rhythm. This one for the heads that
altogether heavier affair with added in one damn fine track with a full breakdown alone. ‘Budgie Smuggla’ included are Muffler’s frantic wobble know. Flipside ‘Drum Thunder’ treads a
bleep factor and a sprinkling of rave vocal that never lapses into cheese. continues in a similar vein with sledge- d&b overhaul of ‘Gangsters’ and Vent’s more electro influenced path with deep
stabs. Pure party starting bizzle all On the flip, Ctrl Z remix last year’s hammer drums and a dubwise vocal deliciously squelchy take on ‘It Get’s underground vibes and a monstrous
the way smash ‘Girls, Money, Drink And sample, a complex yet effective track. No Better’. Definitely not to be slept on! breakdown the order of the day.
Drugs’. Massive! To be played extremely fucking loudly. FAR TOO LOUD
HIp HOp
MR LIF KYZA DJ VADIM FT. SABIRA JADE SALVO FT. KASHMERE & CHESTER P WORDSMITH & I.N.C. THE POET
tHe suN LOVe ANd MusIC / dIRtY HIddeN tReAsuRe tHe INFO 7” tAKe A WALK IN MY sHOes
BLOODBOT TACTICAL ENTERPRISES DENTED BBE KING KONG HOLDING COMPANY NU REVOLUTION
Mr Lif returns to the game with this Undoubtedly one of the UK’s finest, Party starting bizzle here from DJ Freestyle battle champion Salvo joins Baltimore based emcee Wordsmith
precursor to his forthcoming album former Terra Firma member Kyza Vadim who brings the ska vibes forces with Kashmere and Taskforce’s teams up with Dutch rapper I.N.C.
‘I Heard It Today’. Continuing in the presents the first single from his on ‘Hidden Treasure’ featuring the Chester P on ‘The Info’ 7”, which The Poet on this fine single on Nu
style that made his name with a forthcoming ‘S.O.S. (Shots Of vocal talents of Sabira Jade. This is limited to just 400 copies. West Revolution. Forming an unlikely part-
string of excellent releases on the Smirnoff)’ project on Dented. ‘Love bouncy number serves as a taster Londoner Salvo provides his own nership, these two come correct on
Def Jux label, Mr Lif comes correct And Music’ sees him adopting a for his forthcoming ‘U Can’t Lurn decidedly off key, stripped back beat ‘Take A Walk In My Shoes’, each rap-
on ‘The Sun’. He brings intelligent laidback flow over a sun kissed beat Imaginashun’ album. ‘Soldier’ rides which includes snippets of Chinese per weaving tales of their home city,
and insightful lyrics over a futuristic as he tells of his lifelong love affair in on a reggae influenced beat with dialogue, while each rapper brings perfectly complementing one another
but uplifting synth laden beat, Lif with music, cleverly incorporating a France’s Big Red and 5Nizza from their own inimitable flow to proceed- over Strada’s laidback r&b influenced
getting political in the most subtle number of artist and track names into Russia providing the lyrics. Final track ings. Taken from his forthcoming beat. With both rappers steadily
way, delivering a message for these his rap. ‘Dirty’ flips the script with ‘Saturday’ slows the pace down with album due to drop this summer, Salvo stepping up their individual profiles,
uncertain times. truly X-rated lyrics over a dirrrty low a pure soul vibes, Pugz Atomz verses is most certainly a name to watch on this could be the start of something
rider of a beat. Big tings! given the auto-tune treatment. the scene. very exciting indeed. Look out for the
album, due later this year.
www.kmag.co.uk
K52-59_Reviews.indd 61 29/4/09 13:18:51
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