Review:
There are many dubstep labels who have had a very productive 2018. One of these without a doubt is Artikal Music, who have excelled in their release schedule, dropping banger after banger. This latest drop from Ternion Sound makes no exception as we kick off with the mammoth title track 'Parasite 6', which stomps forward with a bag of energy, drawn from it's super powerful synth design. We get swampy next on 'Loonz', which combines dubwise delays with punchy production, before hitting the unpredictable percussive grooves of 'The Chamber'. Finally, we finish up the selection with the glitch-driven stylings of 'Nicky P', filled to the brim with electronic energy and delightful groove pockets.
Review:
As a label project, it's hard not to be impressed with Zha's White Peach imprint, who have been consistently providing the 140 scene with exciting and original releases, spanning the full breadth of the bpm's genre range. Here we see Taiko make a highly anticipated return with a powerful four tracker, kicking off with the eastern inspired melodics of the title track 'Jackal. The tastings become a tad eskimo infused on the electronic synth leads on 'Bleep Bleep', before we step into fresh waters in the more sublow inspired arrangement of 'Sea Pimp'. We then round off the project perfectly with the futuristic vocal processing and unpredictable designs of 'In My Way'. Yet another winner from arguably the most consistent label in 140 music.
Review:
Undeniably one of the hottest forthcomers in the world of deep, dark dubstep is Dalek One. It should genuinely be a criminal act to play this man's music off of anything that isn't a fully-fledged sound-system but we've had to make do. Loping force is the name of the game at 140, and 'Say What' accomplishes this with flair and deserved arrogance, it's bouncing bass stabs edging out over a dystopic backdrop. 'Strike Back' is just pure heaviness, snarling basses and snappy snares turn this into a true dancefloor piece of work. 'Strollin' has a slightly more experimental feel, like an urban cousin of 20/20 that sprays graffiti on trains and sells drugs. Another top-notch EP from Dalek One.
Review:
As one of the real leading forces in Bristol's 140 scene, we were very excited when we heard tell of a new project dropping from Boofy, especially when we learnt that it was to be alongside now legendary Tectonic imprint. We kick off the party with title track 'in My Head' which is a creepy, old school roller, driven by spooky harmonics, along with the skippier drum stylings of 'Perfunktion' and the quite frankly incredible sub work that takes place across the triplet driven arrangement of 'Back In The Box'. We then sign the project off with 'Herbie', another haunting expanse of unpredictable soundscaping, driven by organic drums and persistent, grizzly drones.
Review:
The team at Instigate have given us a magnificent year so far, filling our shelves with top draw release after top draw release. Here we see them continue in their hot streak as they invite B-Say in for a potent four track collection. The project begins with the silky tones of 'Kashmir', a subtle trappy roller filled with flavour. This is followed by the title track 'The Inbetween', which utilises beefy drums and subs to energise its arrangement. Next up, the haunted percussive expanse of 'Sic' before finishing up on 'Bloodshed', a spicy lo-fi collaboration with Barret.
Review:
For us, this is without a doubt one of the hardest 140 two track drops we have seen on the platform this year as the team at Sentry unveil an eastern inspired work of brilliance from North London's Cimm. We kick off with Eagle Eye, which takes vibrant, organic eastern style string melodies and layers them demonically with gritty bass notation with incredible affect. We are also gifted 'Old Scratch', which switches the motive to a more dubwise arrangement, without losing that eastern melodic tint. This one brings out more typical dub elements such as super wavy delayed chord progressions, lazers and crunchy drum creations.
Review:
It was an absolute pleasure getting stuck into this futuristic body of work from Deft, who touches down on the ever impressive 20/02 LDN imprint for six tracks of pure weight. The title track 'Bellyboy' alongside the vocal talents of Buchanan is a demonstration in electronic excellence, bubbling up suspense and darkness in perfect harmony. Along with the extended edition, the EP hosts four additional recordings, starting off with the perfect drum processing of 'Done', along with the glitchy atmospherics of 'Rollon', the crunchy VIP mix of 'For Sudden' and the spacey melodies and trap rolls of 'Scope', rounding off a very impressive body of work.
Review:
During dubstep's original rise to notoriety, there were few producers who came to the table with as much originality as Silkie, who's smooth, soulful productions around the 140 area catapulted him into an instant fan favourite. We are therefore super excited to see him return here, courtesy of Pretty Weird, for two tracks of pure fire. The title track 'Don't DJ For Free' is a marching masterpiece, driven forward by bubbling LFO leads and punchy drum riffs, not forgetting some crispy cowbell action. On the flip we are blessed with 'Rhythm Junkie', another stomping creation comprised of smooth sub harmonics and dazzling soundscaping.
Review:
Wheel & Deal are set to continue their impressive year here as they invite in the punchy production stylings of Dayzero for an official three track project, stuffed to the brim with organic dubstep goodness. The title track 'Dagger 3' is a stripped back glitch driven piece of magnificence, initially led by an offkey synth arpeggiation above scatty rolls and lethal sub shivers. Following this, we have 'The Lord Boy', which boasts it's perfect mix of glitchy lead melodics in a call and respond with tasty LFO movements. We finish up on 'Dinosaur Age', which combines stomping brass leads with subtle 808 stabs for a super shocker showdown, polishing off an exciting bag of originals.
Review:
Let's just list the amount of stone cold bass OGs on this collection: Krust, dBridge, Om Unit, Danny Scrilla, V.I.V.E.K, Von D, Moresounds, AU, Oris Jay & Chris Innersound and whole load more of soundsystem culture's most innovative craftsman working at the deepest levels of the low end coalface all feature on this immense and forward thinking document. Including the curator Amit himself. Every track is a highlight, each one and abyssal, immersive experience but essential highlights include the toxic bass bounces of Moresounds' "They Can't Handle It", the 23rd century UKG of Oris and Chris's "They Can't Handle It" and Krust's big screen masterpiece "Escape From Finland". Amit deserves a holiday. Or a massive trophy. Or both. Bass compilations don't get much bigger than this.
Review:
Frenk Dublin brings the sort of vibe here that everyone can get behind. The first thing you notice on 'Let Me Tell Yah' is the dub and reggae influence, those classic bouncy dub notes sound fantastic but don't stop darker dubstep elements from creeping in. 'Steppin Down' ups the tempo slightly but opts for more mellow soundscapes, whereas 'Bongo Rocker' takes you straight to the Tangled Roots at Boomtown with a gorgeous mix of Jamaican and British dance influences. 'My Head Is A Space Echo' stays on the same tip but combines it with a more celestial, spacey feel, before 'Stingray Dub' shuts down the release, a chilled out number, a real eye-closer but one which still hits your chest how it should. Not the most energetic release but it doesn't matter - the dub consistency is what brings the magic.
Review:
As a label, Crucial Recordings has been on a super impressive run throughout 2018, supplying the bass thriving masses with some incredible content, including this most recent two track drop from Gramz. We kick off this one with the futuristic, almost EDM inspired trappish tones of the title track 'Joken', which combines a spooky, twisted introduction with mega powerful bass revs and crunchy sub work. The B side switches it up with a more descending set of melodies and sliced grime vocals leading to haunted moogy synth tones and super punchy trap style drum arrangements.
Review:
Within UK dance music's expansive circles, there are few who have offered as much as Scuba over the years, who here returns to his beloved Hotflush household for a stunning new project by the name of 'In Retrograde'. This project sees him traverse a complete spectrum of electronic music, with a half time dubstep feel being the central yarn in its tapestry. From the distorted utterings of 'Buzzsaw' and funky inspired flavours of 'Gyroscope' to the more soundscape led compositions of 'Entrospect' and 'Ants', this project boasts a wealth of musical expertise, showcasing a depth of dubstep influences and offshoots.
Review:
Newcomer De-Tu debuts on White Peach with some absurdly off-kilter dubstep, on the same tip as Mala's best entries for his own Deep Medi Musik. The title tune, "Koshi", is an Eastern-tinged samurai affair with a looming dread bass emanating from the underbelly of its groove, leading beautifully into the vocally-led beats of "Sippin'", a pseudo-hip-hop tune driven by a darkly lit hardcore vibe. "Slap" ends on a more placid note, dissipating the beats and low frequencies into an itchy, mechanical bass rhythm.
Review:
The Simply Deep movement has had a pretty impressive year, with a number of top draw releases finding their way into our charts. They are back again, this time alongside the weird and wonderful sounds of Korin Complex, who unveils this highly experimental seven track selection. We begin with the bubbly syncopations of 'Density', before stepping up the pace across the lethal leads in 'Ancient Contact' and the dubwise delights of 'Can't Know It'. Next up, we are treated to the heavyweight LFO expanses of the 'Adeptus' VIP mix, followed by the earthy, breaksy rolls of 'Espresso'. We aren't done there however, as Darkraqqen steps forward for an uber trippy scattering of 'Density', with The Greys following suit in his powerful revamp of 'Can't Know It'.
Review:
In a crowded dubstep and grime scene, there really is something that stands out about the consistency of Zha's White Peach imprint, who have struck gold again here with an expertly crafted four track masterclass from Hebbe. We begin with the soothing aquatic melodies and hypnotic sub pressure of the title track '3 Tabs' before landing on the darkened structure and haunting overtones of 'Appropriation'. Next we step into the super wingy excitement of 'IPA' which is driven by grizzly lead bass textures, before finishing up the EP with the nostalgic lfo movements and dubwise drum creations of 'Post Modern Dub'.
Review:
The Innamind Sound has been on a serious rampage of late, putting out some of the most sought after releases within the dubstep sphere. TMSV supplies the goods this time as we kick off with the title track 'No Sleep', which is an unpredictable roller, laced with unusual rhythmic structure and crisp production. Next up we slip into the lethal bass leads and haunting atmospheric extensions of 'Temple' before finishing up tidily on the punchy horn stabs and distorted 808 hits of 'Maniac Mansion'. A seriously impressive three tracker for sure!
Review:
As one of the real success stories off the last few years, Sepia makes a real statement on his latest EP, courtesy of the legendary UK dubstep imprint: Wheel & Deal UK. With four tracks on display, Sepia shows the full range of his expansive production arsenal, beginning with the soft, emotive chord textures of the title track 'Last Chance Saloon'. Next up we have a more dance floor ready design in 'Kira' which works super catchy breathy melodies together with highly syncopated drum maneuvers and lethal lowered sub bass movements. Following this we roll into a lethal collaboration with Koma by the name of 'Embalment', which works hypnotic chime like arpeggiations together with triplet drum creations whilst the final track strips everything back to pure bass and drum orientated bliss. Excellent work from one of our favourite dubstep designers.
Review:
Within the dubstep scene, Taiko has earned his rank as one of the modern front runners of the genre, consistently delivering innovative creations and enthralling compositions wherever he lays his hand. This EP via the guys at Subaltern sees four stunning tracks put forward, starting with the super swingy shuffling drums of 'Wings'. Following this we step into darker territory as 'Trenches' runs wild with sharp drumwork, urgent string themes and catchy synth lines in a call and respond fashion. It then gets even darker as 'The Raid' brings out more chilling string motifs before we finish up with the horn-like lead patterns of 'Mana Pool'.
Review:
Brixton representing: system OG Brother Culture continues his rich vein of form as he follows up his recent Mungo Hifi album with another longer on Swiss vibes station Evidence Music. Bubbling with digi dub riddims and instrumentation and lyrical clarity, highlights include the springy funk of the album title "Code Name" and "New Generation" and the much darker, heavier and directly conscious "Chant Dem Down" and "Dreadlocks Thing". Powerful, wise and lean; Brother Culture reminds us who's boss once again.
Review:
Bristol's Peverelist is known to be a truly innovative musical figure within the city, having been a major part of the early dubstep movement and continuing to influence trends after. Here we see him return to the exquisite sounds of Punch Drunk for a top draw two track release, kicking off with the super swinging hi hats, unpredictable delays and engulfing subs of 'Bluez'. On the flip side we are given another treat by way of 'Und_92', a masterful piece of broken garage production, letting the subs run wild beneath sharp drum processing, expert chord delays and organic atmospherics, making this a very special return indeed.
Review:
With previous on Tuba, Surfase and Gourmet, it was only a matter of time before Cali collective Subtle Minds dented the discog of do-no-wrong imprint Subaltern. Marking the occasion with four tracks, it's every bit the consummate label debut. "Ambitions" soothes with a purple tint, all west coast and softly sleazy. "Gelato" brings even more sweetness with pining melodic poignancy and a lush sense of sadness, "Standard Strain" eases back on some dewy eyed harp plucks subtle barbed bass grunts on the fills while "Sun Valley" brings things to a close with touching humanised textures, and deliciously trippy percussion. Ambitious and accomplished.
Review:
The dub scene is an often under appreciated area of bass music, but labels such as Scrub A Dub have been providing consistent weight for white some time. Here we see the outstanding vocal prowess of Rider Shafique combining with Alter Echo, E3 and Ishan Sound on this dark steppers roller by the name of 'Ah Mi Guide'. We hear heavily affected vocals running wild across moody soundscapes, and that's before we even dip into Egoless's monumental dubbed out rethink. Excellent stuff!
Review:
The Artikal Music imprint has been providing us with heavyweight belters for quite some time now, so when we saw they were teaming up with Akcept for a two tracks vibe out we couldn't be happier. The title track 'Might Of The Trinity' is a subtly spooky roller, packed to the rafters with mind boggling sub work and unpredictable snare delays, topped with eerie ride cymbals and marching drum rhythms. On the flip, 'Night Crawler' is a more mellowed out exploration of space and texture, with dubbed chord structures shimmering left to right above smooth drum movements and perfectly crafted bass tones.
Review:
The Macabre Unit Digital imprint has made itself home to a number of heavyweight releases in recent times, with Manchester's JFO being the latest to join the illustrious roster. We kick off this four track bonanza with the title track 'Spectrum', a phenomenal piece of dubstep inspired sound design, driven by blazing subs and masterful mix work. This is then followed by the similar stylings of 'Mind Control'. Next up we splash into the pool of weighty subs and precisely processed percussive rolls that is 'On My Skin', descending into delightful synth growls and sharp drum work. Finally we finish up this masterful body of work with 'Hailstone', an incredible arrangement of haunted atmospherics and powerful beat stops, reminiscent of early DJ Madd.
Review:
You are in for a magnificent journey on this one as Deep Heads unveil this stunning album project from Sidi, going by the title of 'Music From The Vaults'. As a project listener we are given a lesson in soundscaping, as 'Lucy Moon White', 'Bears Sun Paws' and 'Mum' provide stunning atmospheric backdrops, coupled with beautiful harmonics and exceptional melodic structure. Along with this, 'My Head, Distance, Your Face' sets up a crunchy lofi composition along with 'So Slow Sunday'. Overall, as an LP it is a triumph in showcasing the future of electronic yet melodic sound design, whilst retaining its incredible emotional energy. Great stuff!
Review:
Up there with Swindle and Joker, dubstep's funkiest OG Silkie returns to Deep Medi with three more sublime grooves. Broken, cheery, just a little cheeky and swooning with switches, each of these cuts rattles and bashes with Silkie's signature west- coast-meets-UKG-in-a-long-dark-Croydon-tunnel melting pot: "Impervious" flips from orchestral epic to dreamy flutters before dropping into 80s horn funk with mischief while "Reevea" is Silkie in classic "Poltergeist" mode. Finally "Egyptian March" is straight out of Indiana Jones. A jittering snake charmer that has you going from nought to rolling under stone doors and grabbing your hat in 10 seconds. Silkie you absolute don.
Review:
Well, it appears that Uprise Audio have gone and done it again with the second part of Seven's extraordinary 'Rebellium' project. From the off we are blessed with explosive steppers flavour as the sharp, horn-like synthesizers and lethal bass oscillations of 'Happy Feet' kick us off. Next up Spec joins the party as the pair collaborate on the glitchy roller 'Scatter' before Seven moves back into some intense solo production work on the haunted sounds of 'Reactor'. Finally the EP is rounded up by 'Swamp Trap', an unpredictable spacy half time pressure bomb, packed with neurotic bass textures and smooth drum designs.
Review:
To be honest, it's about time that Logan Sama had the space to compile his own series of mythical London club Fabric's, Fabriclive series. The grime DJ started his career back on the equally important Rinse FM back in 2002, and has been an important part of the club's development over the years that saw grime and dubstep blow up. At number 83 in the series, Sama drops a selection of tunes that are wholly representative of his DJ sets in Fabric's Room 1; the mix contains tunes by everyone from grime pioneer Wiley, to vocalist and producer JME, and a whole load of lesser known names that have kept the grime scene evolving. This is the real deal, there ain't not other like it around these days. Recommended.
Review:
This one's been on the slow roast. Juss B's spacious, spellbinding sound has always hinted at an album excursion and, from the moment the title track's cosmic synths take you to the stars you know he hasn't disappointed. Highlights at every corner: the physical, sub-aquatic trap elements of "Dime", the devil vocals and ghetto diesel of "Hater Blockers", the seasick riff trippiness of "Grand Hustle", the glock-knocking barbed wave weaver "Starry Eyes"... The list goes on. Juss B is in his sonic element right here.
Review:
A:Grade continues to live up to his name with this stunning five-piece suite. It launches with a cowboy-laced stepper session that's laced with a whole range of strange staccato hooks and counter hooks, "Rusty Swing" also lives up to its name as A:Grade takes a squeaky tone and creatively wraps up a whole jam around it, "Claggy" takes us to the far east via the karzy while "Blockchain" gives the bitcoin bros a run for their money with its bullishness and relentlessness. For his finale salute A:Grade gives us "Psionic", a springy stepper coated with trippy sci-fi textures and enough techno tendencies to power a small village. Handle with caution.
Review:
It's always exciting to see new music from Radikal Guru hit the shelves. This release see's two classic works recreated in remix form none other than dubstep heavyweight DJ Madd and Melbourne's own bass maverick: Sekkleman. Madd steps up first with his gutter twist up of 'Back Off' featuring exhilarating vocals from the legendary Solo Banton. On the flip, Sekkleman builds an explosive steppers recreation of 'Raggamuffin Soldier', which of course features a lively vocal performance from Echo Ranks.
Review:
With previous releases on Blind Jack's Journey and Tessellate, London via Istanbul's Aleksandir returns with this great new six tracker courtesy of Seb Wildblood's Church imprint. Shades of jazz, soul, broken beat and house linger throughout these lush and dusty downbeat selections. Take for instance the smooth opener "Before, After" with its seductive leads, airy pads and reduced polyrhythms, the late night deepness of "Gone Swimming" (which is so sensual) or the simply evocative mood lighting of "Between Summers" which respectfully recreates the vibe of UK greats such as 4hero or At jazz's classic nu-jazz antics.
Review:
There is nothing we enjoy more than new school reggae releases, despite them appearing to pop up very rarely these days. We were therefore overjoyed to find this exceptional selection of compositions on our shelves, courtesy of the magnificent Cultural Warriors alongside the legendary Horace Andy. To begin with 'A Little Bit Different' is a classic, driven by a smooth lead vocal presence, insightful lyricism and soulful dubwise production. It gets a bit more electronic on 'Money', as the classic 'Route Of All Evil' vocal is reworked into a futuristic dubstyle delight. This release also comes with a tonne of additional instrumental and dub mix extras, so be sure to check full the full tracklisting!
Review:
The guys at Rareified seem to have struck a major pot of gold on this one as they see two modern dubstep giants team up in perfect form. Throughout 2018, Sibla and Zygos have been on major waves, which is evident here as we dive into the first of four heavyweight collaborations. The title track 'The Path' is a seriously eerie thrill ride, pushed by grotesque LFOs and spacey arrangements, before landing on the super glitchy backdrop and creepy percussive overlays of 'Haunted'. Next up, we hit the darkened rolling drum arrangements and vocal slices of 'Sigil', before jumping into an exclusive bonus addition across the springy basslines and crunchy drum processing of 'Coven'.
