Dubquake レコード& CD

Review: Four sides of cavernous, postmodern dub inna year 3000 style from the UK soundsystem circuit's hottest boyband: Mark Iration, Dennis Rootical & Rico O.B.F. The trio combine their years of experience crafting box rattling anthems, bringing a new irreverence, sparkle, and poppy playfulness to the classic UK roots template. This really shines through on cuts such as 'Calling Jahova' where washes of buzzsaw synth and Sheffield-type bleeps call to mind Gregory Isaacs' early 90s proto-grime oeuvre, and more austere bangers like the aptly named 'Serious Time', where trappy hi hat flurries and savage anvil snares offer up a taste of unashamed 00s steppa nostalgia, while also deftly channelling O.B.F.'s hip hop influence. Great cover too!

Review: Jamaican musical heritage in all its glory gets distilled into this super new collaboration between Newham General (son of the late, great soundman Farda Waz) and Bristol's Dubkasm. Dub, reggae and grime all get drawn upon and twisted up with kette drums and rapid-fire vocals to make for something urgent and direct but timeless. The hard-hitting bars from Foots bring a sense of menace to the equally dark low ends, with digital synths and stepping rhythms all present and correct. The legendary Iration Steppas also feature with one of their signature mixes.