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Keysound
Browse the latest digital releases on Keysound
Played by: Juno Recommends Bass
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.
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LDN 091
23 Jun 23
Bass
23 Jun 23
Bass
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LDN 091S
16 Jun 23
Dirty Dubstep/Trap/Grime
16 Jun 23
Dirty Dubstep/Trap/Grime
Played by: Juno Recommends Bass
Review: Diving into the heart of modernised techno heat, we see the Keysound team back in action once again as they welcome a wicked combination of Krypsis & 9TRANE for two explosive new heaters. First up, we enter the dungeon as the glistening delays and mind-melting reese textures of 'Hollow Point' are ushered forward, giving us gritty subs to wade through, atop clicky percussive perfection for a wild introductory original. From here, we then explore the depths of 'Box', another haunted creation, fusing eerie atmospheric pad textures with ghostly harmonics and hard hitting drum work, all glued together with some of the most hard hitting sub work we have heard this year. Sonic excellence as per!
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LDN 090
07 Apr 23
Bass
07 Apr 23
Bass
Played by: Juno Recommends Bass
Review: Keysound have a real knack for delivering unique sounding releases that really do push the bar up every time, a theme they continue to push with this fabulous new display from Kellen303'. The four track EP opens up with the dungeon-like reverberations and heavily textured backdrops of 'White Label', which through potent bass melodies and crunchy, minimal percussive clicks, gives us one heck of an intro. From here, the shimmering synthetic pops of 'The Dream' weave their way into view, backed by a breathy collection of synthesizer slides for good measure, before 'Life Different Now' fuses post-breaks drums with a seriously haunted sense of atmosphere, giving us a seriously unique piece of sonic art. We then take in the 'Roots VIP' of this one to follow, which focuses on a much more spacey arrangement, giving the track an alternate, more abstract look to round off the project in style.
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LDN 088
25 Mar 22
Bass
25 Mar 22
Bass
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LDN 085
05 Nov 21
Bass
05 Nov 21
Bass
Review: Still reeling from the release of Burial & Blackdown's Shock Power Of Love EP, Keysound Recordings shifts this attention to some lesser known talent, in this case Spd. For the uninitiated, Spd's been skirting the nether regions of UK bass music for some five years now, hooking up with labels like Sustained Audio, Cut and Estranged to Roska Kicks & Snares. For Keysound, Spd turns in three rhythmically fluid cuts full of jittery percussion, tightly woven basslines and sporadic displays of percussion, dub and melody. "East" subtly threads a Italo-esque bassline into a dank cut of piano atmospherics and lost flutes, with "Computerised Images" substituting anything Italo for something more overtly dubstep. With "Pfhin" a good crossbreed between the EP's two other tracks only with an extra touch of eerie urban rave, London style.
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LDN 084
28 May 21
Bass
28 May 21
Bass
Played by: Juno Recommends Bass
Review: Keeping with themes of continuum is Burial's return to Keysound backed by a Blackdown VIP dub and remix of the track "Arklight" by Joseph Whittle's Heatmap project. For Burial, it shows a '90s-inspired and hopeful sound from an artist revelling in the skylit clouds this time opposed to the dusty streetscapes of his known soundworld. "Space Cadet" sounds exactly that, with spirals of Asiatic chimes and new age synths - peppered by crackles and white noise - matched by the rave and post-hardcore melodies of "Dark Gethsemane". Keeping the EP firmly rooted on terra firma though is the hype dub cut "This Journey" by Blackdown - preaching more of a positive message - next to the boxy claps and spiralling arpeggios of that Heatmap remix. An EP for the times: Shock Power Of Love.
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LDN 083
30 Apr 21
Bass
30 Apr 21
Bass
Played by: Juno Recommends Bass
Review: Keysound Recordings proudly present the return of Otik for their first and only release for 2020! "Amor" sees big, driven and dubby hall vibes boom with spacious, sidechained kick drums while rattling junkyard percussion and soft wavy synth textures dip and dive between post-dubstep beats that crossover into techno rhythms. Deeper, liquid and drum and bass, next, is "Seasonal FX" that resonates with bit graded distortion, ragga inspirations and future bass club music that pushes at the melancholia of an original '90s soundboy spirit.
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LDN 082
25 Sep 20
Bass
25 Sep 20
Bass
Played by: Juno Recommends Bass
Review: As champions of the unusual and unpredictable, we were thrilled to see this latest drop from the Keysound team drop into the store as they welcome the wonderful arrangements of Spektralsound to explore sound on a deeper level. The title track 'Safe Haven' is a perfect example of that as we find ourselves washed in blippy melodic expenses and sneaky percussive inclusions that nobody sees coming. The feeling of galloping into the unknown is then replicated on 'Paradise' which combines rolling drums with eerie vocal slices to create a twisted sense of atmosphere, before 'Silent Declaration' strips everything back for some bass and drum goodness. To finish up, the combination of eastern instrumental plucks and warbling LFO influxes of 'Happy Heart' make for a perfect finale.
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LDN 081
03 Jul 20
Bass
03 Jul 20
Bass
Review: As two legendary names within the UK dance music scene in general, we were absolutely thrilled to see that Dusk & Blackdown had linked up with Keysound for a very tasty LP project entitled 'Rollage Live, Vol. 1'. The tracklisitng as ever, shows this duo's insane aptitude for electronic sound design, from the sweeping score of 'Keysound Sessions Anthem' and it's 'Feverish Weightless Mix', to the laser-lead switch ups of 'Parallels' and scattered rhythms of the 'Peng One Two' VIP. For us, there are two clear standouts, including 'Flex' with its unpredictable rhythmic manoeuvres and colourful synthesizer expansions, alongside the steadily rolling bass chugs of 'Anyone Test'.
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LDN 080
17 Apr 20
Bass
17 Apr 20
Bass
Played by: Juno Recommends Bass
Review: Next up from the Keysound crew, we have a brand new shiny project from Blackdown, who returns with a very interesting concept of an EP. Track one takes the title 'All In 1' which combines elements of the other four tracks on the EP into one super minimix of a composition. We then move into the spooky string slides and rainy textures of 'The Hunger' before the high pressure drum chops and laser-like synths of 'The Cycle' arrive on the scene. Finally, we check out the rapid fire synthesizer shots of 'The Information' before turning up the tech-o-meter on 'Headback Lift Off' which lets loose with choppy percussive slices and distorted bass tones to the match. A very interesting listen indeed.
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LDN 079
13 Mar 20
Bass
13 Mar 20
Bass
Review: First arriving in 2016 by minting Mo:za?ek Music with a white label drop in 2016 called Stigma - with that much loved Rusty 3 Star Remix - Space Between The Stars provides the artist with a second release for Dusk and Blackdown's Keysound label. The artist's debut album, that follows the Things Betwixt 12" from 2017, perceivably continues the artist's expression of liminality. The album takes in a bevy of genres, colours and inspirations, ranging from the progressive and heavy synths heard in "Ruins" with its jazzy sequencing, to the Roly Porter styled explosions of "Cold Was The Night". Its title track is equally rave but with more of a focus towards the dancefloor, while there's no denying the emotional, ambient and kisses of white noise in the piano-laden "Waking Life".
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LDN 078
22 Nov 19
Experimental/Electronic
22 Nov 19
Experimental/Electronic
Review: As ever with Vern & Milla we are in for a fun fueled thrill ride here as they land again on the legendary Keysound for a supreme wonk-out across three storming original creations. For the title track, fellow chop wizard Blackdown joins the party the super unpredictable chord slices and break slaps of 'Untouchable', before Vern & Milla touch down back on solo duty with the super blippy 'Catch My Breath'. Next up, the colourful bass rolls and drum slices of 'Shokata' arrive on the scene, before the stunning, Asian inspired harmonies and overall soundscape of 'Yoshimitsu' finishes this whole project off with a proper bang!
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LDN 077
13 Sep 19
Bass
13 Sep 19
Bass
Review: As a long standing member of the UK's experimental bass community, Scratcha DVA here joins forces with the twisted creations of Gage for two tracks of blissful unpredictability, really exploring the barriers of sounds and beyond. The first track we here is 'PIFFD', a weird and wonderful showcasing of creative sound design, alternating between toad-like plucks and retro synth harmonies. On the flip we are approached with a tad more structure, as the mysterious melodies and unusual drum sounds of 'FLYTNURSE' are allowed to roam free. We are also treated to a very clever rework entitled the 'Darq' mix, stripping the track back slightly with a more concise structure.
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LDN 076
22 Feb 19
Bass
22 Feb 19
Bass
Review: The Keysound massive make a highly anticipated return on this one as they unveil this five tracks selection from no other than Otik. We begin with the hypnotic composition of 'Top Ten', which sends trippy arpeggiators out to lead a choppy bass heavy charge. Next up the quirky sub rolls of 'True Level' followed by 'Latex' which works together some incredibly creative uses of space and reverb. Finally we have the spacey garage roller known as 'Notion'' before landing firmly on Blackdown's super techy rerun of 'Top Ten', rounding off the EP perfectly.
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LDN 074
14 Sep 18
Bass
14 Sep 18
Bass
Review: Kellen303 is a Brooklyn based DJ and producer who is Transit.fm co-founder and self-described word of mouth badman - a music junkie who appears here for the London-based dubstep label Keysound ,owned by Dusk and Blackdown. From the stripped back drum and bass deconstruction of "Planet X" to the bleak urban landscapes as described by Bronx based Afro-Dominicano MC Rainey on "Spy Glass" - you can see why this talented producer's dark sound appealed to this usually UK-centric label. The rapid-fire drum attack of the fiercely orchestrated "Big Shot" is also worthy of mention. All in all a unique hybrid, with tracks that are inspired by goth rock/industrial, footwork and vogue music.
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LDN 073
16 Mar 18
Bass
16 Mar 18
Bass
Review: Blackdown's output for the Keysound imprint is responsible for some of the most breath-taking shades of bass available on the market right now, and it's thanks to artists like these that the scene is pushing ahead into fresh new corners of the electronic spectrum. None of the tunes on this new album, Those Moments, ever risk sounding too stale or obvious - there is a constant state of surprise and wonder at the helm. Like the works of Burial in the mid 00's, this is a very personal take on grime culture, blending and chopping low frequencies with all sorts of field recordings; "Those Moments" itself is awonderfully balanced bit of spoken word, surrounded by drones and synths, while others like "Halcyon Skies" are a perfect representation of how far one can stretch the bass formula - pushing into far into the ether. Highly recommended.
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LDN 072
01 Dec 17
Experimental/Electronic
01 Dec 17
Experimental/Electronic
Review: Following a thunder run on the likes of Black Acre, Rua and Railroad, Sully returns to Keysound with his third album Escape and from the moment the beatless intro whisks into the mix you know he means business. Ripping through his soundscape we're treated to snare-rattling sci-fi grime ("Casablanca") a two-part gully space trip ("Assembly 1 & 2") industrial strength 23rd century UKG ("Bullseye") and vicious, head-melting old school amen-snapping jungle ("Vanta") All sounds and ideas joined with signature consistency, Sully's showcase has never been sharper.
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LDN 071
29 Sep 17
Bass
29 Sep 17
Bass
Played by: Koast (Durkle Disco)
Review: Keysound are proud to announce the third installment in their Rollage sub-series. This EP is from Blackdown, with Dusk joining on co-production duties. "C-troit" is a name revived from a lost, unfinished track by Blackdown in the very earliest years of dubstep. A hybrid of the names Croydon and Detroit, it's a heuristic for the place between Greater London's bass-led music and the halcyon synths of early Detroit techno. Now that there's a growing body of dark, 130bpm-ish rollage, from within the Keysound camp and crews beyond: the EP seeks to throw warm light into the shadows, with the tracks "Godlike Power", "Clueless ft Dusk" and "Halcyon Skies (Rollage mix)." The EP's closing cut "The Greatest Concert (RIP PMC)" was written by Blackdown in the days immediately following the passing of his father. The tracks in the Rollage series are designed to be mixed together as one flow.
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LDN 070
21 Jul 17
Bass
21 Jul 17
Bass
Played by: Squane
Review: After heavy support on their Rinse FM show over several years, Keysound Recordings are proud the announce an EP from Lyeform aka Ben McCarthy an experimental electronic artist from London with an emphasis on bass and precision drum programming. His expansive sound incorporates cutting edge sound design whilst remaining within the broad structure of UK genres. An up and coming presence on the club circuit, In 2015 he launched Void Space Records, to focus on releasing raw club music, with a 12' from Bristol based producer Riffs. The dreamy and mesmerising "Dead Angel" finally sees the light of day after its premiere on Rinse FM last year, as does the jagged and hypnotic bleep-fest of "Things Betwixed".
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LDN 069
02 Jun 17
Bass
02 Jun 17
Bass
Played by: Cloaka
Review: The endlessly talented Blackdown is back on the feverishly gracious Keysound imprint for a new batch of bass-driven, high-tech dance cuts. This time, however, it's a multi-mix affair, where our man Blackdown lays down four versions of the "Keysound Sessions Anthem". The Feverish Weightless mix opens with an Optical-style fold of mutant bass engulfing the barren slices of percussion floating in mid-air, followed by the more kinetic Technorollage mix, where a hint of 4/4 is injected amid the groove's rugged and improvisational beat structure. The original cut sounds like a strain of dubstep that could have easily been conceived by the UK's legendary jungle pioneers thanks to its subtle hints of break science, while the 8bar version takes us all the way to grimesville, and ties this EP off with a grizzly tone of voice.
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LDN 067
03 Feb 17
Bass
03 Feb 17
Bass
Review: The raunchy Keysound label know how to drop some noxious 'bass' vibes on our charts, and they pretty much do so with a new artist each and every week. DJ Sincliar is the newbie this time, but by the sounds of his drums and snares, he very much knows what the f*** is up! "Ricky" takes us back to '03, a stripped-down grime attack of a tune that would have made the likes of Plastician very happy...and probably still would; large folds of mutant bass leak out of every space in this track, and we can safely say that this one is a proper blaster. "Gunman What", as the title suggests, is all artillery but, instead of using bullets, DJ Sinclair uses the classic grime blueprint to get his point across. Yessir!
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LDN 065
28 Oct 16
Bass
28 Oct 16
Bass
Played by: Juno Recommends Ambient/Drone
Review: Key sound affiliate Damu is back on the label with a scorching two-tracker that sees the artist develop a more comprehensive approach to his sonic landscapes, and one that isn't immediately tied down to the dance floor. "Off The Spectrum", in fact, is a wonderful companion to a DJ set, whether that be as an opener, or even roaming loose on a third deck; its beatless demeanour is full of life and colour thanks to the kinetic motion of its elements. "Point & Line To Plane", on the other hand, takes a much more aggressive approach, turing the tranquility of the A-side into a distorted frenzy, a wild and unpredictable whirlpool of sounds. Don't sleep on it..!
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LDN 066
30 Sep 16
Ambient/Drone
30 Sep 16
Ambient/Drone
Terror Danjah feat Jamakabi
Played by: Oil Gang, Unkey, Cotti - SumtingNew, Juno Recommends Bass, Cos BV (Car Crash Set), Monkey Wrench, Denham Audio, Lynch Kingsley
Review: UK grime maestro Terror Danjah has been smashing it ever since his first EPs started to emerge in the early 2000s, and we have to say that the man hasn't stopped rinsing it since. Among other big labels, he's been an integral part of London's Hyperdub unit, but the time has come to spill some truth on the respected Keysound label and here he is with "Juicy Patty", a vocal-led gunshot riddim that literally sounds as if it was recorded straight on the curbside; jacking, stop-start beats and a minimal arrangement make this a true London burner. There's an instrumental mix, too, for the DJs, but the first remix comes from Logos, who shreds the entire structure down and focusses heavily on the percussion, followed by Blackdown's louder, more menacing interpretation for the peak time hours.
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LDN 063
24 Jun 16
Bass
24 Jun 16
Bass
Played by: Juno Recommends Bass
Review: Atlas' debut on Keysound comes as no surprise whatsoever and, in fact, we were expecting to see someone of hi calibre pop up on the label. "Solitude" is a little work of art, a deep and enthralling web of bass and wide-eyed synths that bring to mind the start of something new fantastic, and it also fall neatly into the sparse folds of low frequencies present on the sonic massage that is "On The Cusp". "Alone In A Timespan" is all icy synths drone twisting carried forwards by a heavy percussion muscle, while "Calm" switches the mood and drops a heavy groove over masterfully executed licks of bass and melodies. Big tip right here.
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LDN 062
20 May 16
Bass
20 May 16
Bass
Played by: Cos BV (Car Crash Set)
Review: Here we have a truly international release with South Africa's Okzharp (aka Gervase Gordon of LV fame) teaming up with Manchester's Samrai (Swing Ting). For the Gated EP they've collaborated with various singers with interesting results. Citied by their own label as being a 'pivotal record' at their Keysound Sessions parties, the instrumental "Gated" fuses evocative trance synths with a dancehall fervour that just perfectly works. Elsewhere the tune gets tweaked in different directions - Specialist Moss adds some classic reggae mic action, Ruffest leads a cool Afro-house angle and Shokryme wraps things up with a welcomingly eccentric delivery.
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LDN 061
22 Apr 16
UK Garage
22 Apr 16
UK Garage
Played by: Juno Recommends UK Garage
Review: Take a pinch of Mr G, add a dash of DJ T, mix it all up with a little Ron Hardy: Truce has an ageless restrained funk style that could be played in warehouses any place and any decade from late '80s Chicago to mid-90s Berlin right through to the future. "Be There" is the warm-up bubbler, all struts and a sexy insistent vocal. "Uhh" drives us deeper into the peak time chapter with a dark, techier sheen to the bass. Time to call a Truce.
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LDN 059
04 Mar 16
UK Garage
04 Mar 16
UK Garage
Review: It has only taken Lamont two years to climb the ladder of success, a successful run of EP's which have no taken him to the the excellent Keysound, via the large and in charge Computer Integrated Audio. There's two mixes to "Death Slide", the first featuring the vocals of Grim Sickers, and it can only be described as being a leftfield UK hip hop tune; the dub mix strips it all back to lazy, staggering groove with a minimal edge. "In The Field" carries on the grime vibe thanks to Nico Lindsay's cold rhymes, but the beat is even more twisted, driven even further out into space; the Devil mix, as the name suggests, is nothing short of far-out.
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LDN 060
12 Feb 16
Dirty Dubstep/Trap/Grime
12 Feb 16
Dirty Dubstep/Trap/Grime
Review: Joe Taylor aka JT The Goon is part of the neo-grime movement, and it was only a matter time before we'd hear his beats on the sublime Keysound imprint - home to the likes of Beneath, Kowton, Logos, Wen and many other bass experimenters. "Oil On Ice" sounds exactly like its title implies, a slow-paced bundle of drunken beats surrounded by delicate swarms of grimey synths. There's three extra versions of the tune, too: Version 1 ups the tempo and drops a juke beat over the same liquid synths, version 2 staggers between garage and two-step, while Version 3 is the closest thing to techno on here, albeit broken and swung-out.
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LDN 057
15 Jan 16
Bass
15 Jan 16
Bass
Played by: Vern & Milla, Majora, Matta, Wolf, DJS: MOST CHARTED - DUBSTEP/UK FUNK, Cos BV (Car Crash Set), Koast (Durkle Disco)
Review: Lifted from his debut album Signals, Wen's fearsome collaboration with Riko Dan gets the remix treatment on Keysound by two heavy-hitting factions. Walton steps up first and brings the gutsy crossover rhythms, touching on taut 4/4 drum lines without forgetting about the importance of low-end presence and some deadly half step drops. Kahn & Neek meanwhile knock the track into a whole new ballpark, weaving a mysterious line in fluttering melodies that contrast with grimy string hooks, once again placing the pair far outside the rest of the pack. It's a track that manages to be sweet and deadly in equal measure, bolstered by some additional MC flex to truly make the track their own.
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LDN 056
23 Oct 15
Dirty Dubstep/Trap/Grime
23 Oct 15
Dirty Dubstep/Trap/Grime
Review: Genre mashing production unit LV have enjoyed a fruitful partnership with British Nigerian vocalist Josh Idehen since first colliding on the 38 EP for Keysound Recordings back in 2010. Having flirted with Hyperdub for the release of 2012's Sebenza LP, LV and Joshua return to their spiritual home Keysound for third LP Islands. Whereas previous long players have seen LV manipulate Idehen's vocals, Islands finds Joshua given centre stage and lyrically exploring themes such as "murder, desperate loneliness, obsessions and sexually-unfulfilling nights out". Despite this new approach, Islands is a very confident album, with LV's arrangements perfectly complementing the tone Idehen takes with each track. "Talk Trim" and "Make It Count" are particular highlights.
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LDN 048
30 Sep 15
Bass
30 Sep 15
Bass
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.
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LDN 049
30 Sep 15
Bass
30 Sep 15
Bass
Review: Signing up to Keysound after past appearances on Tectonic amongst others, Mumdance and Logos bring their fresh perspective on fractured rhythms that come on like a distant echo of what dubstep started all those years ago. "In Reverse PIV" comes on positively avant-garde with its reversed percussion and highly strung pads, while "Turrican 2" decimates drum machine house tropes with a wrecking ball of bass and plenty of stop-start action. "Wut It Do" taps into the vanguard of hardcore revivalism and brings a hip hop cut-up slant to proceedings, and then "Truth" splays out in an entirely different direction made up slow, scattered drums and wistful strings. It's as singular a collection of bass music as you're likely to hear any time soon.
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LDN 041
30 Sep 15
Bass
30 Sep 15
Bass
Review: After dropping the fine tones of long player "Carrier" back in 2011, Sully is back on Keysound with a sizable package of jungle infected wares that give a lot of the break revivalists a run for their money. Working in some of those mystical chime tones favoured by label mates Wen and others, "Solitaire" rolls on a perfectly nailed jungle skank that harks back to the era when the sound didn't need to be aggressive but rather meditative. "Checkmate" makes an interesting job of reducing the breaks down to a bare minimum, while "Charms" gets more lively and playful in its demeanour. Throughout this eight-tracker jungle is the key influence, and yet the ideas flit around with the innocence and wonder of anything considered 'classic' in the genre.
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LDN 046
30 Sep 15
Drum & Bass / Jungle
30 Sep 15
Drum & Bass / Jungle
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LDN 001
30 Sep 15
Dirty Dubstep/Trap/Grime
30 Sep 15
Dirty Dubstep/Trap/Grime
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LDN 005
30 Sep 15
UK Garage
30 Sep 15
UK Garage
Review: It's been a long time since Dusk & Blackdown committed themselves to a release proper, and they're doing so now on their own Keysound imprint. Kicking off with "High Road", which features a guest contribution from Burial, the atmosphere is a spooky one that employs smatterings of mournful vocal over a pacey rhythm and an immersive tapestry of sounds and samples that keep the track dynamic and ever-engaging despite its surface minimalism. "Focus VIP" is a more forthright affair, still drenched in drama but with a propulsive groove and lashings of strings, rousing details and a mean Reese bass line. That leaves it "Ex-Swing" to chuck the beat out of leftfield in a snappy 2-step reduction that maximizes on stop-start impact at the end of each bar.
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LDN 032
30 Sep 15
Bass
30 Sep 15
Bass
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LDN 003
30 Sep 15
Dirty Dubstep/Trap/Grime
30 Sep 15
Dirty Dubstep/Trap/Grime
Review: Blazing a promising trail with his neon-lit funky styles, Damu delivers this four track selection to Keysound with an undeniable effervescence in his demeanour. The synths are surely the key players in these tracks, not least on the upbeat clarion call of "Ridin". Anyone who caught the sunkissed charms of the Oriol album on Planet Mu will find plenty of melodic satisfaction to enjoy here, albeit in a more steppy setting. As the EP progresses the weirdness creeps in, culminating to a brilliant end with the unhinged pitch-bending of "Karolina's Magic J", which will definitely appeal to your inner freak.
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LDN 024
30 Sep 15
UK Garage
30 Sep 15
UK Garage
Review: Despite the somewhat questionable use of a sample from The Matrix kicking things off, the third installment of the LHF series on Keysound is a remarkable revitalizing of original dubstep ethics. Double Helix crafts an utterly perfect mood of edgy paranoia on "LDN", where intricate rhythms echo out in ample space while whispers of jungle flirt in the background. Amen Ra keeps the bar high on "Essence Investigation", as the half-step swagger does battle with occasional flurries of breaks and melodies. No Fixed Abode pushes things even further out into sparse rhythm and Indian folk elements, and just like that, dubstep sounds like the most exciting music in the universe again.
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LDN 028
30 Sep 15
Dirty Dubstep/Trap/Grime
30 Sep 15
Dirty Dubstep/Trap/Grime
Review: With 2011 being Keysound's most prolific year to date, the label enters 2012 with a fantastic EP from two of the label's old hands, Dusk and Kowton. Utilising a clipped UK Funky beat and restless sub with symphonic ambience, Dusk's "Fraction" expertly channels its rhythmic intensity, while Kowton's rework highlights the production's darker corners, utilising sinister melodies and collage-like movie samples to nightmarish effect. Kowton's "Looking At You" is up next; taking a brittle Destiny's Child sample as its main hook, it manages to sidestep the problems usually associated with contemporary R&B sampling by keeping its melodic elements to a minimum, concentrating on shackled garage rhythms and a growling undercurrent of bass. It's more overtly contemporary than his recent material for [Naked Lunch] and Idle Hands, but still has all the unmistakable hallmarks of his unique sound.
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LDN 025
30 Sep 15
UK Garage
30 Sep 15
UK Garage
Played by: Star Eyes
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.
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LDN 033
30 Sep 15
Experimental/Electronic
30 Sep 15
Experimental/Electronic
Played by: 4llen, Warlock, Wolf, Juno Recommends Bass, Cos BV (Car Crash Set), Klient, Koast (Durkle Disco), James Mannion, Leda Stray
Review: Dos McGouran also goes by the name of Detboi, an alias he uses when he's in the mood to make dark, grimey street music with a hardcore edge. His latest curveball is shaped into a four-tracker for the singular Keysound label, home to a wide selection of underground bass music including some of Beneath's first productions, and Blackdown among others. "Scatter" cuts straight to the chase with its breaks, huge bursts of mutant bass and stop-start groove; "Guve Love" is deeper and slower but nonetheless grizzly in its sonic selection; "Shots" goes for a tribal approach and successfully blends an old-school subbass with more minimal melodies; "Pin Point" ties things off with another twist of neo hardcore, brimming with breaks and charisma.
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LDN 055
07 Aug 15
Bass
07 Aug 15
Bass
Review: Keysound collective LHF update the unique legacy left by their debut opus Keepers Of The Light with another intriguing journey into new sonic shadows. The moment the cathedral stretches and ghostly tones of opener "Gateway" light the touch paper, you know this fire will keep your soul toasty. Subverting scenic sights along the way, the journey takes us on a trip through UK funky graveyard ("Surrender"), sludgy double-decade-deep trip-hop ("Yielding"), a skippy lo-fi synth odyssey that one might boldly describe as emotional juke ("Entrapment") and raw, tribal drum shamanism ("Mud And Root"). Comparisons could be made with the likes of Modeselektor, UR, Massive Attack and even Hot Chip's earliest work but it's best described as LHF. A troupe who are truly in a league of their own. Stunning.
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LDN 054
10 Jul 15
Bass
10 Jul 15
Bass
Review: Amen Ra, Double Helix, No Fixed Abode, Low Density Matter, Octaviour, Escobar Seasons, Solar Man and Lumin Project realign as LHF for their first release since their debut album on Keysound back in 2012. Featuring the distinct talents of jungle stalwarts Ragga Twins, this four track EP picks up on the numerical series that first announced LHF to the world back in 2011. The Ragga Twins vocals were not newly recorded however, instead unearthed "from an unlikely source dating back many years" with the Hackney jungle pioneers later granting LHF permission to use them. The resultant four tracks on From The Edge are as dark and rolling as they come with final cut "Street Wise" a standout.
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LDN 053
01 Jun 15
Bass
01 Jun 15
Bass
Review: Keysound continues to act as a platform for bustling new talent within the realm of contemporary grime and dubstep, with this album-length project coming from 22 year-old production prodigy Wen. Much like recent Keysound LP alumnus E.M.M.A., Wen is a relative newcomer, with just a few 12" releases last year and an appearance on the Keysound compilation This Is How We Roll to his name. Coming through with a debut album so soon is a bold move then, but there's a confidence to Wen's productions demonstrated throughout the 12 tracks on Signals that keeps you coming back for more. Heavy usage of coded samples of dense London slang and live pirate radio throughout help broadcast the album's themes of "power, locale, identity, intent, inequality, sexuality, gender, diversity, energy", whilst Wen can call on some high profile collaborations, with label boss Blackdown and grime legend and "original Don Dada" Riko both featuring.
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LDN 044
17 Mar 14
Bass
17 Mar 14
Bass
Review: Despite first surfacing on a split release with former Kowton alias Narcossist on Mindset back in 2008, there has been just a faint murmur of activity from James 'Logos' Parker since then, but now he comes correct with a long player on Keysound that should turn a healthy amount of heads with its ostentatious mixture of found sound, celestial synth work and grimy bass acrobatics. While that might sound like a difficult mixture to fathom, when filtered through the minimalist gauze that Parker has employed as an arrangement device it comes off some truly immersive music. There are nods to video games in some of the samples that crop up, whilst all manner of audacious sounds get repositioned as rhythmic devices, but the primary focus here is on tense atmospheres lingering in a suspended animation between different forms of 21st century music. It's sci-fi music of the highest order, and as such is highly recommended.
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LDN 042
18 Nov 13
Bass
18 Nov 13
Bass
Review: There's something rather intriguing and exciting about this EP from newcomer Etch. Like much of Keysound's recent output, Old Skool Methods consists largely of bass tunes clocking in around 130 BPM, with clandestine rhythms, murky basslines and snapping snares that come accompanied by the kind of wide-eyed, early jungle nostalgia that should appeal to both youngsters and old heads alike. "Hybrid" sets out the formula, pitching a sparse but powerful, speaker-rattling bassline against jaunty rhythms, rave piano stabs, deep atmopsherics and classic vocal samples. J-One collaboration "Sounds" sits somewhere between dubstep and classic two-step, while "Sphynx" rolls along on a wave of "Pacific 808" chords and old skool rhythms. With its pitched-down jungle breaks and paranoid mood, "Lost Methods" is pretty tasty, too.
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LDN 040
23 Sep 13
Bass
23 Sep 13
Bass
Review: Bringing forth fresh talent at a dizzying rate, Dusk & Blackdown's imprint steps up with another sterling four-tracker of forward-thinking bass music that keeps the vibe of dubstep alive just as it points to new avenues. Etch is fearsomely limber on "Scattah", wielding rudest jungle tropes on a half-step lurch with a wonderful injection of horror soundtrack tension that brings all the darkside incantations you could hope for. Walton has a touch more pep in his own collage that drops a snappy garage mentality with a breakbeat roll, while the bass rub cries out for a powerful stack of subs to test. Visionist taps into the exotic climes that the LHF collective explored so adeptly, clashing melodies against each other without hesitation, and Fresh Paul takes the creatively maligned purple sound and runs it into a far more inviting cocktail of emotionally ambiguous and devilishly produced fare.
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LDN 037
27 May 13
Bass
27 May 13
Bass
Review: Bringing a classic approach to dread-filled dubstep paranoia, Wen steps up to Keysound with a swagger that would sit comfortably alongside the sub-hassling pressure of DMZ. "Commotion" rubs back and forth in a cold refrain devoid of melody in favour of unrelenting bass and distant wraiths of sound, only inhabited by a scattered slice up of an MC. "Nightcrawler" heads into a grimier territory, working some crafty synth moves and a keen sense of sound design into a dynamic stalker of a track, while "Spark It" deconstructs electro down to its barest ingredients, and slamming a hefty bass throb underneath. "Road" completes the package in morbid fashion, making it a sturdy four tracker of the most fearsome kind of dubstep.
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LDN 035
18 Feb 13
Bass
18 Feb 13
Bass
Played by: Juno Recommends Bass
Review: Beneath arrived on the scene earlier this year with two self-released white labels showcasing his unique strain of dark UK funky, and quickly won a number of high profile admirers. One was Keysound's Martin Clark, who has tapped him up for this superb six track EP. Traces of early Horsepower Productions can be heard in its combination of late garage and early dubstep rhythms, as can the early productions of Youngsta, creating a sub-heavy set of percussive rollers taking as much from the current strain of techno & grime fusions as UKF. "Prangin" goes in with a deeply tribal vibe, "Wonz" is filled with angular rhythms and Shackleton style atmospherics, and "Tribulation" even has the subtle Eastern tones of Pinch's "Qawwali", but the most striking track has to be Beneath's remix of Ballistiq Beats' "Concrete Jungle", proving that his productions absolutely shine with some classic grime flow.
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LDN 034
26 Nov 12
Bass
26 Nov 12
Bass
Played by: Dusk + Blackdown, Juno Recommends UK Garage, Mr. Mitch, Vorres (Vrrs), Juno Recommends Bass, Diphasic, Cos BV (Car Crash Set)
Review: Keysound bring together a gaggle of relatively fresh names to throw it down in a rowdy fashion. Walton rips into action under a hail of gunshots, deploying some deadly grime strings over a pulsing UK Funky rhythm. Gremino meanwhile has his own brand of virulent bass music to share, moving scattily through all manner of brutal synth notes before pulling off a shockingly long drop out, only to come back barking the same lurching mantra. Visionist is more dextrous with "Come In", scattering a manic array of vocal samples over a moody backbone. Vibezin rounds things off with possibly the most essential cut, catching a strange soundtrack vibe in the midst of a snapping found-sound beat that sounds as future as it gets right now.
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LDN 031
06 Aug 12
Bass
06 Aug 12
Bass
LHF / Various
Review: With the series of 12" s garnering ever more praise among dubstep purists, Keysound capitalise on the appreciation of the LHF collective and issue forth a whole album's worth of material under the appropriate title Keepers Of The Light. The reason the crew is heralded is not because of some stout insistence on making endless monochrome 2003 style dubstep, but because the vitality the genre poses at its best is evident throughout their output. There's a heavy focus on Indian classical samples in many of the tracks which harks back to Dusk & Blackdown's Margins Music, but really the whopping 26 track selection is pushing a brand of freshness in a half-step context which is all their own.
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LDN029-REG
02 Apr 12
Deep Dubstep
02 Apr 12
Deep Dubstep
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LDN 013
11 Jan 12
UK Garage
11 Jan 12
UK Garage
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LDN 015
11 Jan 12
UK Garage
11 Jan 12
UK Garage
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LDN 016
26 Dec 11
Dirty Dubstep/Trap/Grime
26 Dec 11
Dirty Dubstep/Trap/Grime
Review: With two EPs on Local Action and Keysound already under his belt, Damu here delivers his debut long player for the latter imprint. As you would expect from a label as on point as Keysound, Damu brings something unique to the table with his brand of UK funky, combining expertly sampled R&B vocals and neon synths. But it's the after-hours vibe and organic rhythms that permeate his productions which really stands out, particularly in the complex and shimmering melodies of "Breathless" and piercing melancholy of "Don't Cry In My Bed". Most impressively however, is the range of genres and tempos which Damu turns his hand to; "Maths Is Fine for Some" evokes the swampy techno of Andy Stott, whilst "Waterfall of Light" and "Plasm" call to mind the freeform juke template of Machinedrum. Essential stuff.
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LDN 027
17 Oct 11
UK Garage
17 Oct 11
UK Garage
Review: There were two tracks on LV's Message To Bears destined to get the masses grinning and raving, and now they've committed those two tracks to a surefire single package. "Northern Line" could almost be written off as pure novelty, were the production behind it not so sharp and addictive. The bouncy rhythm employs a sumptuous range of duelling percussion, while the synth stabs through the mix to keep things skipping forwards. On the flip, "Primary Colours" bolsters a stabbing rave hook with a rolling break and plenty of classic "yeah, whoop!" samples, while the growling sub anchors the kitsch surface elements.
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LDN 022N
05 Sep 11
UK Garage
05 Sep 11
UK Garage
