Review: As two of the real flag-flyers for the Keysound movement, it's exciting to see the combined prowess of both Dusk & Blackdown once again landing on the label, for the sixth edition of the 'Rollage' series, delivering a tidy original backed by blistering remix additions. First up, the title track 'Tradition' gives us a metallic fusion of robotic drum crunches and uniquely processed bass instrumentation, delivering a fiery feel from start to finish. The remixes then bring an extra level to the table as the Pad Roller remix firstly unveils a more 4x4-inspired overhaul, followed by the Gqom-Wrong edition, a percussive-driven crunch-fest of a rework. Finally, the 'Weightless' mix gives us an eerie peer into the more abstract side of electronic music, clothing things off with a unique bang.
Review: Always concerned with keeping dubstep and its subsidiary styles marching ahead into fertile new ground, Keysound operatives Dusk + Blackdown have an interesting twist to this new "EP", which offers up four new tracks, four remixes and two mix recordings as a stock take of where everything is at in bass music right now. The new material finds the rhythms moving in limber and playful ways, while the melodic content stays gritty and moody, even if the LV-esque synth blasts of the title track shed some colour on the surroundings. There's a healthy thread of grime and all manner of rave signifiers woven into "Peng One Two", and some more wild experimetation on "Epic Jam", and then the remixes fling out in equally eclectic configurations. For top shelf bass mutations across the board, you can do no wrong here.
Review: Dusk and Blackdown have been operating on the progressive end of the dubstep spectrum for some time, having released their first material way back in 2005. Desaflex, their second full-length, continues where previous sets left off, offering a deep but surprisingly floor-friendly take on dubstep. Taking influences from a variety of sources - IDM, electronica, garage and UK funky, most obviously - they offer-up a series of well-polished but pleasingly analogue-sounding cuts full of energy and, most importantly, good ideas. At times, their brand of finely tuned bass-tronica sounds like early Black Dog with a dubstep pulse, at others like a futurist outing to Croydon. Throughout, it's a delightful listen.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.