62 ESSENTIAL REVIEWS
DUBSTEP
CLOUDS EMALKAY COKI JAKES SCUBA
– UNDER DANCING FEET / – MY STORY / SPACE – GANGASTA FOR LIFE – TITAN / WARP 9 – HARD BOILED / TELL HER
WORMS CRUNK PROMO HENCH HOTFLUSH
ARGON BOKA If you’ve been to any dubstep Multitalented Jakes is back on Scuba is fully on the case
Summer is just around the ‘My Story’ is an energised reg- gig recently then the chances form once again with this, the at the moment with his
corner and what better way to gae fuelled bouncer of a tune are that you already know this. second release on Hench. Full minimal approach to dubstep
celebrate than with a tune like with garage overtones and Pretty much an essential bit of marks to the man here for his production, ‘Hard Boiled’ is an
this? Sit back, relax and smile is uplifting vocals. This is certainly kit for your record box, ‘Gangsta effort with ‘Warp 9’. Jakes con- atmospheric tune and Scuba’s
the name of the game with ‘Un- one for the dancefloor. ‘Space For Life’ has that distinctive Coki tinues to prove that his skills production style will take you
der Dancing Feet’. Definitely one Crunk’ is more in tune of what texture with stomping effect, are not just limited to vocals as on a journey. ‘Tell Her’ is a little
of my favourite tunes of the mo- we’ve come to expect from Em- the vocal and beat structure fit his distinctive production style more gritty but Scuba still
ment, it combines all the right alkay, deeper and tougher than perfectly and this tune does the is tearing up dancefloors left, applies his trademark style,
ingredients that make dubstep the A-side, while ‘Space Crunk’ damage on the dancefloor. An right and centre. Remember if you like your beats more on
what it is. ‘Worms’ is OK but is provides the more learnt style instant classic; fully big in the every third Thursday of the the minimal side of things then
overshadowed by sheer quality of what has become associ- game so make sure you get your month catch Hench records at this is for you, definitely the
of ‘Under Dancing Feet’, making ated with dubstep. Two tunes of hands on a copy for sure. All out the Tube nightclub if you’re in sound and feel of European
this an essential purchase on varying styles on offer here; try rewind material. Bristol. Yes Chef! dubstep. Best to listened to
that tune alone. it you might like it. with a cup of tea and a spliff.
BREAKS
VENT ILS LIFECYCLE PARKER STANTON WARRIORS
– ENCODED / GASH – HATE IS AN ILLNESS / – TECHNO NOTICE / – WESTERN SOUL – WHO ARE THE WARRIORS
HARDCORE BEATS LONE RIDERS SMALL PART OF ME ROCSTAR SEEKER
Vent deliver Hardcore Beats’ BOTCHIT & SCARPER RICOCHET Cut La Roc’s Rocstar label has This is a top notch remix
strongest release so far this With its memorably quirky vocal, For the second release on his certainly hit 2008 running, with package featuring re-rubs
year, dropping some serious ‘Hate Is An Illness’ deservedly new label Lifecycle delivers this new release from Parker of two tracks taken from the
ruffneck breaks and bass that gets the single treatment as a pair of hybrid breakbeat coming hot on the heels of La Stanton’s ‘Lost Files’ album.
properly live up to the label’s one of the highlights from Ils’ tracks that grind and wind their Roc’s own ‘Nemesis’. The funky First up Bass Kleph lays down
name. Nothing can separate the ‘Paranoid Prophet’ album, and way into your mind. ‘Techno hip hop of the original features some stripped back electro-
tracks for production quality alongside the old skool vibe Notice’, as the title suggests, West Coast rapper Rasco, and breaks vibes on ‘Who Are The
and dancefloor vibes, ‘Encoded’ of the original it appears with has a techno bent, but not comes complete with a stack Warriors’, fielding some nice
running riot in a mentalist drum a completely different skin overtly so, its beat-switches of remixes to suit DJs across squelchy bass and bouncy
& bass vein, full up of grimy courtesy of Napt, dropping in and electronic riffs and bass the board. On a breaks tip come beats for instant dancefloor
low end and energetic builds with their trademark fidget matched by a sense of the versions from Groove Diggerz impact, while by way of
and drops; while, dropping in a funk. Matching them for quality, organic in its vibe and structure. and White Papoo, dropping their contrast Whatwhatwhat pull
similar style, ‘Gash’ completes while delivering more traditional This track comes with a Chris house-tinged and hardcore out all the stops on their deep
the double. breakbeat fare, are Botchit Carter remix, but it’s the original styles respectively. and driving version of ‘Seeker’
stalwarts Def Inc who serve up and the equally twisted and featuring some quality vocal
some dark filtered bass on their psychedelic ‘Small Part Of Me’ action from Jhelisa.
version of the driving ‘Lone Riders’. that really turn the head.
HIP HOP
SWAY FEAT STUSH SONNY JIM SKANDAL JOE BLOW MR BENN FT. BLAK
– F UR X – THE MISSION STATEMENT – DARK TIMES – SMOKING SKILLS EP TWANG & BLACKOUT JA
DCYPHA DENTED KILLAMANJARO DIAL UP – LONG TIME
Sway continues his push Birmingham based battle Chemo’s protégé Skandal Fresh from ripping up SQUARE ONE SOUND
for the mainstream with champion Sonny Jim gets delivers his first official release Metabeats ‘Metaphysical’ Bouncy, sunshine soaked
this radio friendly little ditty deeper than a Welsh potholer and it’s a chilling ride to the album last year, Cardiff native reggae grooves all the way on
culled from his recent ‘Dotted on ‘Mission Statement’ which dark side. A muddy brew of hip Joe Blow comes correct with Bristolian Mr Benn’s debut for
Lines Mixtape’. ‘F Ur X’ is a sees him flex his lyrical muscle hop and grime, ‘Dark Times’ is this six tracker on Dial Up. With Square One Sound. Joined on
tale of domestic disharmony with a tight flow and some a brooding, late night journey 18 (count ‘em) years experience the mic by Blackout JA and UK
involving a boy, a girl and a clever wordplay. The beat is a straight to the underbelly of on the mic, Mr Blow (no relation legend Blak Twang, Mr Benn
phone. Appropriately enough, futuristic jazz-shuffler that the city as Skandal spits over a to Kurtis) comes across as keeps it real with this homage
the beat sounds like it was complements Sonny’s subtly remorseless zombie marching accomplished and articulate to days gone past, when life
produced on Sway’s own threatening tones. ‘A Dying beat. Having already garnered rapper, still managing to retain was simpler and the music
mobile, with South London Breed’ features Kashmere, much praise from Kiss FM and his sense of humour. He drafts industry had yet to go up its
vocalist / rapper Stush Soweto Kinch and Logan collaborated with producers in South Wales’ finest to assist own arse. This is a real feel-
participating in a call and on a strangely hypnotic, yet such as Beat Butcha and The him on the project and the good carnival friendly track
response chorus that should anthemic beat and ‘On All Last Skeptik, Skandal is all set standout track here is the which should be all over the
take the playgrounds of Cylinders’ is simply banging. to blow the underground scene bouncy closing track ‘Blunts In airwaves this summer.
Britain by storm. apart this year. The Ashtray’.
K60-63_EssentialReviews.indd 62 25/4/08 14:39:16
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