Established in 2014, 81 is a sub-label to ‘one of Britain’s most established underground bass music labels’, Swamp 81, owned by dubstep pioneer and forward-thinker, Peter Livingston aka Loefah. 81 pushes the dark, post-dubstep, bass-heavy, stripped-back house, techno and footwork sound Swamp 81 has shaped, to the rafters, with ‘the most upfront underground music’ it can offer. Stand out tracks on 81 include Paleman’s ‘Beezeldub’, Lamont’s ‘Titanic’ and Cousin’s ‘Ruff Draft’.
Review: It's been a while since we heard of such a match made in heaven as this as we see Manchester's Hypho touch down on the legendary 81 UK for four tracks off pure bass-driven class. We kick off with a potent collaboration with BeatBoss champion Rakjay, who delivers some wicked vocal leads on the moody 'Round Ere', followed by the eerie bass tonality of 'Yinliao'. Next, Rakjay returns again on vocal duty, bringing poetic twists above a fantastic arrangement of subtle sub expansions and rolling drumwork on 'Graft', which is chased up by the crunchy tech infused breaks of 'Module', rounding this one up in style.
Review: Oh my goodness, if you're a fan of old school grime, dubstep and of good music in general you'll love these tracks. Both on different tips 'Ar Kid' is violent and twisted and will have blasting those gun fingers to the warping dubstep drops and catchy hook which will have you becoming fully fledged hype man. 'Ships' is one of those track with that magical balance of complex simplicity, between the clicks, drips and whirls there's so much space in the track allowing you to focus on Kwam's exceptional delivery.
Review: The latest stop on Lamont's concurrent ascendency in the world of leftfield bass prodigies is none other than 81 UK. Here the label enables him to deliver a searing two-track reminder of why he's boss in bass. "Titanic" is an apocalyptically doom-ridden ghetto joint, all sparse beats and creep FX. "Eyes Closed" on the other hand, is an intense sonic melodrama set to some seriously serpentine trap rhythms and taut orchestral flourishes.
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