Review:
Scotland isn't exactly the first place you think of when listening to Edinburgh dwelling Hostage's Listen EP, (his first for the esteemed Black Butter imprint), soaked as it is in the essence of Rinse FM circa 2002 grime instrumentals. You can pick out the far off eski synths in opener "Listen", and closer "No Bitch Equal", but they're joined by echoes of dub as well as searing basslines - it's quite a cocktail but one that Hostage balances finely. "Dutty Horn" melds a similarly rude bass, and ridiculous horn sample to similarly fine effect, whilst "Dreams" distils the essence of classic hardcore into a UK Funky package, but it's the savage crunch on the kick drum that is bound to impress. The second half of the EP is undoubtedly the most effective - seeing him drop the tempo and allowing his music to breathe a bit more. "Desire" is a bizarrely slowed down but wonderful version of a jungle track, whilst the jackhammer bass of "Razrr" offers some visceral onomatopoeic thrills, made all the more effective for its slowed down pace.