Coursety of Blackdown (big up) is a free Hatcha mixtape from late 2001/early 2002. It features the clipped minimal sound which defined early dubstep and features multiple dubs from the likes of Skream, Benga, and Benni Ill (of Horsepower Productions). Enjoy it here
Tracklist (according to Skream)
Skream and Benga - The Judgment
Benga - Star Wars
Skream - ?
Skream - Dubsteppa
Macarbre Unit - Its All About
Benga - Skank
Benga - Skank VIP
Jameson - Switch
Skream N Benga - WAR BOOTLEG
Dubchild - Roll That,Light It,Smoke It
Benga - The Virus
Skream - The Bug
Menta - Jacknife
Jammin - Tonka - Menta Remix
Benga - Full Cycle
??
Benni Ill Vs Hatcha - Highland Spring
Skream - Futures Dark
Skream - CapeFear
Showing posts with label Dubstep. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dubstep. Show all posts
Monday, 9 November 2009
Sunday, 1 November 2009
A while out the game
Sorry about the lack of updates, only a handful of people read this stuff anyway....
Of late two things have stuck out to me: One, dubstep is pretty much done. Two, Ricardo Villalobos is possibly the most exceptional artist of the decade.
First things first, dubstep. In 2005/6 it was without question the most exciting thing in the world of electronic music. Guys like Skream, Loefah and Shackleton's application of a minimalist aesthetic (especially the latter) to the 2 x 4 template of UKG and Grime created a sonic landscape of distinctly British sound. The clubs were drenched in sweat and the bass was deafening at times but the energy and intensity of the music was something else. But now? The most exciting producers still associated with dubstep (Bok Bok, Dead Boy, Jam City, Oneman etc) are moving into new territories way down at 130-136 bpm, whilst the void up at 140 seems almost solely occupied by sub-wobble donk for students and cheap soundsystems. Plastic horns coupled with the 'womp' of Caspa, Rusko, 16 Bit etc has essentially created the lowest common denominator of the 'ardcor Continuum. It's sad but it's becoming unlistenable. Basically dubstep seems to have become everything which is wrong about drum and bass, and drum and bass fans in particular (no offence to any on here, but post-97 it's all a bit.....rubbish)
Two (far more uplifting)
fabric celebrated it's 10th brithday bash of late with quite honestly the mother of all shindigs. For a full 32 hours the club was going all guns blazing (and for a fair few more on Monday morning in chill out mode). I was only there for Sunday afternoon/evening but it was undoubtedly one of the most uplifting experiences of my life. The crowd was superb: up for it, unpretencious and teeming with pretty girls with smeared mascara...nice. The real draw though was the music: Ivan Smagghe, Steve 'The General Bug', Rub-n-Tug, Daniel Bell, Daniel Wang, Nacho etc were all straight fire but one man above all made it the great event it was: Ricardo Villalobos.
Villalobos is without a question the most innovative man in dance music over the past few years. His dancefloor productions (MDMA, Lugohitz etc) are impeccable but anyone can make a dancefloor banger these days. What really sets him apart are the dynamic shifts and subtleties within his music, whether remixing Shackleton or blurring the lines between Berlin MnMl and Chilian Folk he is always in total control. In all honesty I was a little worse for wear during his set but the mixing and track selection was impeccable. I've been to fabric mulitple times but no-one has worked the dancefloor like that. Majestic, the subpar dubstep boys could learn a lot.
Upcoming in the next few? Dead Prez/K-Lash at Koko next Friday followied by the Trouble and Bass Crew at Fabric with Herve and Zombie Disco Squad. Missed Nat Self at T-Bar this weekend (did see Anja Schneider though, wicked set how anyone can make 'Diva' sound fresh again has got to have something going for them) so really up for ZDS.
Also tracked this down: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I05QvTXMys it's by Luciano and is without question one of the biggest dancefloor bootlegs I've heard in ages. It really stands out from the Michael Jackson refixs coming out left, right and centre.
Of late two things have stuck out to me: One, dubstep is pretty much done. Two, Ricardo Villalobos is possibly the most exceptional artist of the decade.
First things first, dubstep. In 2005/6 it was without question the most exciting thing in the world of electronic music. Guys like Skream, Loefah and Shackleton's application of a minimalist aesthetic (especially the latter) to the 2 x 4 template of UKG and Grime created a sonic landscape of distinctly British sound. The clubs were drenched in sweat and the bass was deafening at times but the energy and intensity of the music was something else. But now? The most exciting producers still associated with dubstep (Bok Bok, Dead Boy, Jam City, Oneman etc) are moving into new territories way down at 130-136 bpm, whilst the void up at 140 seems almost solely occupied by sub-wobble donk for students and cheap soundsystems. Plastic horns coupled with the 'womp' of Caspa, Rusko, 16 Bit etc has essentially created the lowest common denominator of the 'ardcor Continuum. It's sad but it's becoming unlistenable. Basically dubstep seems to have become everything which is wrong about drum and bass, and drum and bass fans in particular (no offence to any on here, but post-97 it's all a bit.....rubbish)
Two (far more uplifting)
fabric celebrated it's 10th brithday bash of late with quite honestly the mother of all shindigs. For a full 32 hours the club was going all guns blazing (and for a fair few more on Monday morning in chill out mode). I was only there for Sunday afternoon/evening but it was undoubtedly one of the most uplifting experiences of my life. The crowd was superb: up for it, unpretencious and teeming with pretty girls with smeared mascara...nice. The real draw though was the music: Ivan Smagghe, Steve 'The General Bug', Rub-n-Tug, Daniel Bell, Daniel Wang, Nacho etc were all straight fire but one man above all made it the great event it was: Ricardo Villalobos.
Villalobos is without a question the most innovative man in dance music over the past few years. His dancefloor productions (MDMA, Lugohitz etc) are impeccable but anyone can make a dancefloor banger these days. What really sets him apart are the dynamic shifts and subtleties within his music, whether remixing Shackleton or blurring the lines between Berlin MnMl and Chilian Folk he is always in total control. In all honesty I was a little worse for wear during his set but the mixing and track selection was impeccable. I've been to fabric mulitple times but no-one has worked the dancefloor like that. Majestic, the subpar dubstep boys could learn a lot.
Upcoming in the next few? Dead Prez/K-Lash at Koko next Friday followied by the Trouble and Bass Crew at Fabric with Herve and Zombie Disco Squad. Missed Nat Self at T-Bar this weekend (did see Anja Schneider though, wicked set how anyone can make 'Diva' sound fresh again has got to have something going for them) so really up for ZDS.
Also tracked this down: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I05QvTXMys it's by Luciano and is without question one of the biggest dancefloor bootlegs I've heard in ages. It really stands out from the Michael Jackson refixs coming out left, right and centre.
Friday, 11 September 2009
Terror Danjah- Industry Standard Vol. IV
Whilst the whole world (or at least the world of London pirates, blogs and music ‘zines) seems to be going crazy for Hyph Mngo this week sees the release of an equally impressive and perhaps more important record from the ‘nuum. Straight from Planet Mu is Terror Danjah’s ‘Industry Standard vol. IV’. Danjah is regarded as possibly the best grime producer of all time, bringing a ridiculous amount of synaesthesia enduing sonic sounds to his take on grime. This release features 2 reworkings of the essential ‘Zumpi Hunter’ riddim a track that’s received coverage from across the board, becoming a staple of sets by Logan Sama, Prancehall, Spyro etc.The first version is an updated V.I.P mix, featuring superior mastering showing the true depth of production. The second mix comes from Swindle and is very much in keeping with the current trend for Bristol’s ‘Purple Wow’ sound. This sublime mix adds vibrancy and a deeper melody to the synths, inducing the listener in before launching into a crucial breakdown loaded with 808 claps. Though redolent of Joker, Gemmy etc this track stands alone in taking ‘Purple’ back to its grimiest origins and displays versatility making it perfect in the dance or at home.
The B side comes loaded with two new riddims. ‘Stealth Mode’ is a dubstep influenced banger where nasty bass lines meet intimidating percussion. Though plastic thugs like Caspa try to sound menacing they seldom (if ever) reach the intensity of Danjah’s production as displayed here. ‘Sidechain’ is simply a hidden gem. Taking a tough 4x4 beat and loading it with synth stabs and LFO effects Danjah produces a hypnotising track complete with a multiple of 4 bar break downs. It’s an emboldening track that sounds not unlike Dexplicit jamming with the Neptunes- heavy but simultaneously well-made, hedonistic and uplifting.
Whilst Joy Orbison will no doubt get the column inches Terror Danjah has quietly released 4 astute tracks of intelligent urban dance music. Well recommended.
Stealth Mode
Zumpi Hunter (V.I.P Mix)
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