Dfrnt At Juno Download

Review: One of the hardest working men in the Scottish dubstep-and-beyond scene, DFRNT brings forth a new EP for his own Echodub label. It features the hallmark plush melodies of an elegant nature that typify his output, although the more steppy refrains have been replaced by a sombre kind of techno on the title track. Normal business is resumed on "Work Harder" as a heavily swinging shuffle slices its way through engrossing swathes of synth, leaving it to the collaboration with Joy Dunlop to round matters off in a blissed-out haze on the wistful tones of "Homeward".

Review: Alex Cowles first unveiled his DFRNT moniker back in 2008, with an EP of deep, dubstep-influenced ambience and horizontal electronica. Having followed that up with an album and a multitude of singles for On The Edge, he returns to original Echodub with his second album, Fading. Those who've followed his career to date will feel right at home with its quiet, shuffling mix of blissful refrains, cozy samples and spacious grooves. While the bassy rhythms of dubstep remain a cornerstone of his outlook, there are also successful forays into dub techno, deep house and drone ambient territory, making Fading an engrossing listen.

Review: After a number of singles and EPs dating back to 2008, Edinburgh producer DFRNT drops his epic 23 track debut album and it's a masterpiece of post-dubstep chilledness and glacial beats. More laidback than contemporaries like Martyn, Kode9, Pangea and Skream, opener "Wake Up" sounds as though it's slowly emerging from a forest, with deep delay on the percussion and a slowly unravelling filter. The beats kick in on "The Warmest" though, but only at a slow and sparse rate leaving plenty of time for each note to register and the melody to pierce through.

Not all of Metafiction operates at such a brutally slow tempo though. "Epitome" for example is lively, with echo-laden hats rattling at around 125bpm. But the beats are never allowed to dominate the mix and are more suggestive and subtle than hard and danceable. Instead, just take in the beautiful soundscapes DFRNT creates. With the help of reversed and processed guitars on "Aftermath" or flutes on "Headspace," he creates a genuinely unique and highly original sound that defies categorisation, but which cements itself in your head over the course of the album. It's also worth hearing the accompanying mixes by Ital Tek, Quantec and Synkro among others for an interesting perspective on DFRNT's style. Viciously contemporary and a whole new frontier in chilled music, Metafiction comes strongly recommended.

Review: Scottish producer DFRNT delivers three deep and soulful tracks of atmospheric dubstep on his latest EP, Saturation Point. The title track uses widescreen synths as cushioned subs lay in front of distant percussion. "Lament" sees moody piano keys and rhythmic twists create a sense of drama that is then shared by EP finale, "Parka Dub", in which the Scot merges dub techno with lashings of trip-hop.