Review: Peddling heavy, sweet subs that ooze out of the scoops like syrup, Portuguese low end maestro 3WA makes his debut on Infernal Sounds with four utterly stinking brouhahas. 'Scavenger' starts the commotion on a deep but stern note and things get more and more twisted throughout the EP... 'Minotaur' grunts and growls with a over-sized toxic bassline while 'Mutt's flips from cosmic and percussive to straight-up deranged. Last but not least 'Wandering' finishes the EP on a last lingering groan. Refreshingly woozy.
Review: Blimey, if this isn't major meeting of musical Midas minds then we don't know what is. Alter Echo, E3 and Headland all collaborating with legendary dub flautist Diggory Kenrick. "Temple Duel" sets the scene in deep underground chambers, untouched by the sun. Reverb space is our only guide and ritual combat is the only way out as we make our way through subsonic 808 bass foundations, a near-industrial mid-range bass guitar groove, stiff snares, stick-fighting percussion and Diggory's torchlight melody. A truly fluid hypnotic narrative that arcs through the dark, if you're looking for an even foggier route flip for "Temple Dub" where the torch is extinguished and you have nothing but your sonic wits to take you home. Only Diggory knows if you make alive or not...
Review: Beau operates at the sharp end of the UK electronic underground and creates an immersive, dark ambient sound that is influenced by trailblazers like Burial. His soundscapes combine ethereal textures with moody rhythms and that is very much the case here on Lacuna, his new album for Feat PLAtes. It is full of roomy sounds, icy glass synths, smeared pads, late-night moods and evocative atmospheres that draw you in ever deeper, sometimes looking over your shoulder, always lost in deep thought. A real lost tape from the short-lived night bus genre, you could say.
Review: The Bitter End label and eponymous production outfit is back with a new and limited 12" of brilliantly dazzling electro, disco and some other unnameable sounds. It's fresh in its fusion of the new with the old and opens with 'U Up', an electro-tinged cut that glides through the cosmos with characterful synth sounds and plenty of colour. 'U Dancin' then brings wispy pads and smeared vocals to a twitchy technoid groove and 'U Perfect' brings out some spangled metal sounds and dubbed out low ends before 'U Burnin' closes with lurching beats and hefty bass under raw percussion. It's experimental body music that cannot fail to get you going.
Review: Long dormant has laid the tried but true practice of dubstep and garage artists sampling classic horror movie dialogue, pre-drop. We're thoroughly happy to hear that new Peaky Beats sublabel Brainjuice have gone and resurrected this zombie for us. This four-tracker from the label hears label heads Peaky and Vel carefully and creatively work in as-yet unknown samples to the stew; some kind of Frankensteinish exclamation on the dubstep A1 laments the feeding of a monster "human brains", while the breakstep A2 'Bacon Dance' hears more timestretched, dystopian vocals amid wobbles. 'Don't' leans more into the kind of melodic dubstep that likes to sample R&B acapellas, and is the most refreshing of the lot.
Review: Peaky Beats is a great name for a label that serves up such irresistible house and garage jams as it has so far over its first eight EPs. This ninth outing is no less desirable, coming from the in house production team in collaboration with Breakfake. 'Life In Stereo' hits a perfect note between kinetic drums and soulful, jazzy chords deigned to melt the heart. 'Rat City' is more filthy - a warped bassline screws about beneath more sleazy broken beats. 'Chapel Town' brings low end dubstep wobble to the party and 'Dub The Acid' is another filthy dirty skanker with echoing hits and mutant bass.
Review: Repress alert! Wednesday: Hyperdub announce a new three track release from enigmatic producer Burial - his first solo work in four years. Thursday: Said records arrive on Juno doorstep. How's that for service (and secrecy)! The news came just a matter of days after the producer's collaboration with Radiohead front man Thom Yorke and Four Tet arrived on record shelves across the UK and promptly sold out amidst a frenzy of hype. There are three new tracks on offer here, namely "Street Halo", "NYC" and "Stolen Dog". First up "Street Halo" showcases the classic Burial sound; subterranean bass gurgles, trademark clicking beats and barely-there vocal snatches. A sweet childlike vocal pervades the sonic mist on "NYC" while "Stolen Dog" closes out with ethereal vocal harmonies buried deep beneath vinyl crackle. Stunning.
Review: ** REPRESS ALERT ** Given that his sound has now been referenced, copied and bastardised by countless imitators, is testament to Burial's enduring appeal that the announcement of a new EP on a Sunday in Febuary was enough to shake the online music press out of their collective stupors. As an EP it more than stands up to his previous work, and it may even be better than last year's Street Halo EP - where the brilliance of the title track left the EP quite top-heavy, there's no such complaints on Kindred. If UK garage was the touchpoint for his earlier releases, this EP sees Burial further developing a sound that has few obvious points of comparison, whether it's the savage, gnarled bassline of the title track, or the shambling house of "Loner", characterized by its hollowed out arpeggio and ambient crackle. But it's "Ashtray Wasp" that provides the most breathtaking moment, seeing the producer using the distinct musical language he's created and bringing confident melodic elements into play. Of course such descriptions seem trivial when trying to describe this EP - even for Burial it's far beyond what his peers and imitators could ever imagine making.
Review: Although Rhythm & Sound and Basic Channel man Mark Ernestus has worked with or remixed many different artists over the years, we didn't expect him to join forces with D&B scene stalwarts Calbre and DRS. Yet that's exactly what's on offer here, as the Hardwax founder delivers two typically deep, dubbed-out techno outings crafted from portions of the pair's collaborative cut 'Badman', which is due to feature on Calbre's forthcoming sixteenth studio album, Feeling Normal. Both 'Bad' and 'Badder' are typical of Ernestus' ultra-deep and hypnotic style, with snippets of the duo's original instruments, beats and vocals echoing in and out of a warming, all-encompassing, sub-heavy groove. In a word, it's superb.
Review: DDD makes a landmark signing here with the legendary dubstep artist Caspa who is undeniably one of the genre's most influential figures from right back in the early days. CASPA's Inner Space EP finds the main man back in top form with his signature sound of ice-cold beats, deep, pulsating basslines, and forward-thinking sound design all making a massive impact. The four-track project makes for an immersive journey through 140 BPM and manages to blend introspection with hard-hitting energy. It is impactful yet refined music that solidifies his legacy while pushing the boundaries of dubstep into new and freshly futuristic territories.
Review: Deep dubstep don Chad Dubz is a firm favourite amongst those who know. And for anyone who has heard him play any time since 2018, they will also know that 'Pipe Down' has been a regular in his sets that never fails to make an impact. It has rolling basslines and techy drum patterns with some unsettling synths and well-treated vocals all keeping you on edge. 'Pussyfoot' is another gem, this time with a low-end wobble and muffled vocals, classic dubstep pads and late-night tension that sounds ever more excellent the louder it gets.
Review: This is how it all began! Coco Bryce and Saturate take us back to 2011 with this deliciously wacky 80bpm halftime couplet. 'Honeymoon' takes us on a wonky MIDI mission with stacks of drama and feeling while 'Wonk' is pure off-the-wall bleep art. Never before released on vinyl, both cuts carry a certain sense of late 2000s nostalgia while remaining so unique they still bump hard today. Feel the love!
Review: London trio Damos Room serve up their take on dub-inspired bass music on this new EP which emerged from a rare collaborative session in Elijah Minnelli's loft. 'Commencement' opens with a deep, droning bass groove that's topped with a stream of conscious muttering to create a moody and hypnotic sound. 'Mineral Blend' brings a laid-back dancehall vibe with dreamy echoes of past sessions and remixers Gonjasufi, Lewi Boome, Dome Zero and Polyop individually infuse the tracks with dub techno, acid and experimental twists best highlighted by Gonjasufi's haunting transformation of 'Commencement' into a misty, immersive bit of sonic menace.
Review: Previously flexing on Wheel & Deal and Artikal, London new-gen 140 talent Darkai now lands on another one of the most respected labels in the dubstep multiverse - Deep Medi. Like all the best 12"s it's a game of two halves as he serves up the rough and the smooth. 'Break Room' is a grizzly, distorted, contemporary hot mess as crushed up drums decay in spirals all around. Meanwhile on the B 'Ogun' goes for much more of a timeless dungeon bound groaner. Booming echoes and snake-like bass, slithering upside your chops. Mood, tension and dynamics all in full effect. High grade.
Review: DJRum's career has blossomed in recent times, in no small part thanks to his mind-mangling and frequently thrill-a-minute DJ sets. Unusually given his prolific work-rate earlier in his career, the much-admired producer has not released much new music of late; in fact, this mini-album for Fabric offshoot Houndstooth marks his first 100% fresh release for five years. It's predictably impressive, with highlights including the twisted TB-303 trickery, bombastic sub-bass and polyrhythmic post-dubstep UK bass beats of 'Codex', the high-octane modular techno insanity of 'Crawl', the spaced-out and dubbed-out, Autechre-ish IDM weirdness of 'Frekm (Part 1)', and the deconstructed breakbeats, psychoactive electronics and metallic effects of 'Frekm (Part 2)'.
Review: Denver's DMVU returns to DDD with the scorching Bruk EP, featuring heavy 808s and some wildly wonky grooves in between the menacing breakbeat interludes. DMVU's mastery lies in blending old and new and he delivers a meticulously crafted yet cohesive sound that is both physical and mental. The title track, 'Bruk,' kicks off with a thunderous drop that is guaranteed to shake speakers worldwide and introduces eerie atmospheres and warped percussive textures. 'Original Champion' combines quirky dubstep with medieval and 80s synthwave influences, while 'Suspect' delivers a powerful punch. The EP closes with 'Playback,' bridging dub reggae's roots with techy, metallic stabs.
Review: Ever since launching his Echoboy project on the label, Moonshine has played a key role in Adam Kupec's output. Rising up from his Riddim Tuffa roots with a disarming, deep dark vibe, he's made his sonic statement clear since 'Jahova' in 22 and 'Fire' in 23. Now back with 'Rasta We Rasta', his signature seems to gleam off the wax. Digital but warm and resonant. Dancefloor but laced with a little soul. Highlights are the ominous boom of the Danny Red featured title track and the tricky cymbals and shiny finish of 'Horns Dub'.
Review: In case you thought 'Nightjars' a few years back wasn't tasty enough, Foamy cooks up another buttery round for Magic Toast and there's breakfast for everyone. Each slice sits at a different tempo and spins a different yarn - the gluey Orbital-on-Mogodon 100BPM tech slug 'Multipass', the springy breakcore-curious lullaby 'Patter', the slimy sluggy business-witnessing blunderbuss 'Overkiller', the hopeful, playful but a little bashful 'Rarefaction' and the lonely chimes and cosmic wobble board adieu of 'Land' - but it all works together in a really immersive and inspiringly inventive way. Exceptional electronic music, this.
Review: Throw the gauntlet: Fast Castle makes a welcome return here with Gent1e $oul's new Shoals"=-EP which is a superbly deep dive into some new and previously uncharted bass worlds. All five cuts are versatile and vital offerings starting with the in your face aggression of opener 'Dark Age' with its hefty low-end wobbles. 'Bad Neighbor' has some stepper energy with big waves of sub-bass washing over you and 'Dusty Acer' then pays tribute to the artist's "dear but aging AoE2 gaming machine". Deep dubstep fans will find plenty of love on 'Illumination' with plenty of mystic ambiance to get lost in and 'Shoals' draws things to a close with half-stepping 160bpm power.
Review: Sleeper man Alex Fox debuted the GRAMZ alias earlier in the year via a two-track 12" on Sentry Records built around paranoid sonic textures, serious bass-weight and rolling 140 BPM beats. For this 10" outing on Crucial, Fox has taken a deeper approach, ratcheting up the smoky atmosphere while retaining sizeable low-end pressure. "Joken" and flipside "Get Them Bags" are hazy, ultra-deep dubstep workouts, with both doffing a cap towards hip-hop and grime (check out the manipulated MC vocal samples on the latter, in particular), as well as the crackling sonic textures of Burial. "Joken" rolls along nicely while remaining pleasingly subdued, while "Get Them Bags" has a little more sonic strut. Both, though, are excellent.
Review: The UK's Hamdi, formerly Hamdiman, has been a formidable presence on the dubstep scene since at least god knows when. We're therefore delighted to note his debut release on the instrumental dubstep label Deep Medi, proving that the often elusive but no less prolific Mala-run label still has their finger on the pulse when it comes to championing next-gen talent. 'Simplicity' recalls the tripletty experiments of the more experimental, nay brutal players in dubstep, with 'Killa' barely indulging even so much as a hint of reverb, except for on the titular sample. The 6/8 timing continues throughout, with 'Second Mouse' utilising a surreal "why?" sample amid sudden stops and tricky hi-hat creeps-upward. The sendoff 'Simplicity', finally, pays homage to an earlier apogee of the scene, perhaps nodding at Coki's raw and unpolished growly sound heard in his 'Spongebob' era.
Review: .Following rumblers and shakers on the likes of Well Rounded and Low End Music, Jackson makes his debut on Liverpool imprint LDH. Proffering some of his wooziest brews so far, the whole collection smacks of 3am liberty. From the moment the creepy opener 'Genie' wafts into view until the very last stench of triumphant hypnosis on the bruk influenced 'Power' leaves your brain, the whole collection is an assault of the vibe senses. The tumbling organs and heavy harmonicas on 'Shakey Shakey' and the trippy boom bap of 'Static' can't go unrecognised for that matter. Shake what your Jackson gave you.
Review: Sneaker Social regulars Alan Johnson return to the label with more unclassifiable gems. All flexing that bewitching, beaty brew of percussion, smoking 808s, shattered beats and crafty sampling, each cut hits with a direct physical groove. From the System-level dubsteppy title track to the more organic haze and swoons of the finale 'People Of The World', the UK duo have once again weaved a fine line between so many genres without committing to any. Tonnes of love..
Review: You ever danced with Josi Devil in the pale moon light? Well now is your chance! Making his debut on Innamind Josi (AKA Joe Dreamer) hits hard with three unique system shakers. 'Madnuss 2 Long' creeps out at the front, unhurried but very focused. It's backed up by two more heavyweight flavours - 'Sunk Still' is straight up dub with a clinically obese sub bass melting all over the kicks while 'Horn Switch' hurls in a bucket of warm, squiggly alien funk. Exceptional.
Review: Mariachiara Troianiello is the creative mind behind Katatonic Silentio and here she continues to explore spatial and sound design while also blending diverse forms of dub and instinctively weaving stories through her music. Her tracks and live sets are known for their meditative quality, with each transition serving a deeper, intentional purpose. That plays out here on her new EP Axis of Light, on which Troianiello presents five pieces where the drops and transitions flow seamlessly and gradually reveal hidden layers and meanings as the journey unfolds.
Review: Last spotted on Strictly 140's Overseas VA LP, Spanish new-gen bass chef serves up his biggest dish to date on Subaltern. Linking up with longstanding baron XL One for the opener, 'Cronauer'. Unhurried, twinkling but laced with a bitter bass bite, it sets the dark dream tone. 'Piranha Plant' and 'Dorsia' see Kodama going solo. The former is a woozy arpeggiated charmer that sits on the hip-hop side of the beat spectrum. The latter hums with similar melancholy but much more of an edge to the drums and that ominous waspy bass tone. Graveyard grooves.
Review: Deep Medi releases are always a cause for excitement, so it comes as no surprise that some of their earliest output is now being given the reissue treatment, nearly 20 years on from the label's inception. 'Kalawanji' is the infamous debut release by London producer Kromestar, with vocals by Cessman, and first came out on Deep Medi in 2006. Now on a limited green vinyl edition, to contrast to the original black, 'Kalawanji' and 'Surgery' are as raucous a pair of tracks as ever, recalling the period in which growly wobbles were just about taking over.
Review: Definitely one of the most haunting and quite possibly one of the most seminal cuts Mala has ever made, the show-stopping 'Changes' enjoys a long overdue re-press. Whether you were around when it first dropped in 2007 and never caught the wax, or you've since discovered it from many different samples such as XXXTENTACION's 'Look At Me' or The Game's 'Holy Water', this is an iconic piece of 140 music that transcends genres and generations. A contemporary classic, nothing less.
Review: Hyperdub kick off the vinyl side to their ten-year celebrations with this weighty four-tracker from some of the leading lights from the label's story. Mala is in a strident mood with "Expected, Level 10" carrying through that extra touch of melody from the Mala In Cuba LP. DVA cuts loose with the leftfield scattershot groove of "Technical Difficulties", reveling in tonal experimentation and jagged rhythmic flair to a stunning end. Still locked into the sci-fi trap tangent that characterised Severant, Kuedo turns out the haunting "Mtzpn" and Helix pops up for a remix of Kode9's "Xingfu Lu" that strips down to bare essentials with a little starlit soul rubbed into the framework.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.