Distance At Juno Download

Review: For the 14th release on Chestplate, label boss Distance gets murky and menacing with this sumptuous four-track venture into bass music. Opening track "Drawn" is a synth heavy number, with crackling SFX, smacking drums and a heavy, lethargic dragging bassline. "Knowing" is another gruelling cut with bubbling bass, snapping snares and metallic SFX, which leads into the title track "Meanstreak" - a whomping, dancefloor driven beast with mid range belches and squelchy flavours. "Mind Control" completes the EP with a more traditional Distance cut - punishing subs, eerie vocal samples and sludgy b-line in abundance. Brilliant.

Review: For some rock/dubstep crossover, look no further than Distance's latest, "Menace". Hearing a solid wall of 'steppy bass processed to sound like a heavy metal guitar, you'll think that Eddie Van Halen has suddenly started leasing a flat in Croydon. It's a strange combination, but it works somehow as it riffs along like a wonky Sepultura. In total contrast, "Beyond" is an atmospheric, almost ambient dubstep adventure, with a flute taking the lead instead of metal-imitating bass. A single of wild extremes, these two tunes certainly demand a listen.

Review: It's been a while but Distance comes back to Tectonic as if no time has passed, packing more of his bruising and propulsive dubstep damagers with him. "Reboot" sports all the hallmark traits you'd expect from a Distance production; carefully sharpened mid-range scrapes, rigid beats, punchy sub bass, but the hats here are manic in their intensity which brings a whole new pace to the half-step template. "Barzuk" twists a touch more melody into the ravey grind, but only barely, letting the effects tweakery do the expressing instead. For banging dubstep that avoids the pitfall of being mindless, as ever Distance is your man.