Back catalogue: Deep Dubstep

Review: The latest compilation album from COD3 QR is, as always, focused on eclecticism, open-mindedness, divergence and non-conformity, featuring the usual wide range of electronic music, all handpicked by Laurent Garnier and Scan X. The vinyl edition of this very latest edition of the compilation series - which was embarked upon in not long after the longstanding but mysterious label was revealed to be the fruits of the labours of this legendary duo, who had until then ran it incognito - comes as a condensed version of the digital, on which a terse seven tracks from the likes of Calibre, Seroplexx, Costello, Marcelus, Subground 3000, Lee Trax, Jim Rivers, Melatron and Ancient Artifact all appear. Though the label has set a high expectation with their admonition against "all expectations and all prejudices", they actually do extremely well to fulfil that aim. Most contributions here - from the steppy, sloppy 'Sump Dub to the just-plain-monstrous 'I Get My Kicks' - tend towards on the uncategorisable and unpigeonholeable, at least in terms of overtly boxed-in genre norms.

Review: Causa and Pharma link-up for one of Locus Sounds' rare vinyl outings and the vibes are set as high as ever. Two originals from both, each one remixing each other's tunes, Causa kicks off with 'Kreamy', an industrial weight growler that's given a dubby touch by Pharma on the rub. Meanwhile on the flip, Pharma heads in an easterly direction with the intense pressure and swagger of 'Shift' before Causa charges the groove up with a bulbous, funk-oozing bassline. Kream if you wanna go faster.