Review: Elephant Doc is up there among the more interesting of new bass talents on the street and, crucially, one of the few remaining dubstep producers who specializes in the deeper and darker end of the spectrum - a much needed rarity. "GG249 Dub" carries a powerful, heartical swing to make the steps supremely dubwise in a way that few other tunes have done in recent times; the likes of Mala would be very keen, indeed. Newcomer Perverse steps up for the remix duty, the artist comes through with a version carrying a lot more percussive weight and, of course, enough mutant bass to make Skream's early tunes seem antiquated by comparison. Well, at least this dude is pushing things forward!
Review: The Pressed imprint is fast making a name for itself by recruiting some top talent across the bass game. For this week's showdown, the label has recruited Medison & Ruckspin, two producers who like to do way down low when it comes to bass frequencies and percussive rolls; the lead tune "Lead Cycle" is a sombre work of beauty, a mid-tempo dubstep sweller guided by Rider Shafique's hip-hop sensibility. Quantum Soul provides the remix, and the spoken word is stretched out, stripped down and liquified amid the harsher beats that dominate the arrangement. Top marks.
Review: Brussels-based badman Bunzer0 makes his debut on Pressed with a track so spacious it has its own ecosystem; the kicks act as intermittent rays of sunshine bursting through condensed pads of icy fog. Trust us, it hasn't been this cold and unforgiving since Shackleton told the weather with blood on his hands. Remix-wise Kahn swathes through the moody mists with relentless thunder storm snares and gutter-chomping bass. In summary: "King Lion" roars.
Review: Nottingham's Congi are duo Chord Marauders and Mimm Collective, who have got many heads nodding (out) to their killer releases on Deep Heads. Here though, they've aligned with Pressed for two slo-mo plunges into the deep end: "Paragon" is all echoes of urban ghosts and undulating bass, whilst "Disorder" features scattered stop/start beats and suspended synth suspense.
Review: Since first making waves back in 2012, New Zealand dubstep duo Perverse has amassed an impressive discography, including releases on Artkal, New Moon and Boka. This EP for Pressed is another excellent release, and should increase their standing further. With its glacial synth melodies, chest-beating bass and clandestine textures, "Rogue Wave" achieves a near perfect balance between downbeat creepiness and dancefloor intent. "Juncture", featuring Mcun, is a much more straightforward roller, with dense, punishing percussion and booming subs being the order of the day. "Bedrock", meanwhile, feels looser and deeper, with clearer dub reggae influences, despite the presence of warped bass and spooky textures.
Review: Following his techno entrenched "Persistent Dread", the mighty Ipman returns to his roots with this saw-tooth killer. Riding roughshod with a savage, spiked out bass lead, "Aight" features a crowd-surging vocal sample and some really cool organic drum breaks on the fills. Remix-wise the ever-reliable Killawatt serves up a more static, stop-start perspective. Enveloping twistedness abounds, complete with layers of processed elements, it's yet another example of Killawatt's creativity.
Review: Matt-U aka Matyas Szalai is probably one of the most prolific producers of the last generation of dubsteppers to make heavy, boisterous, sub-heavy beats. This latest release comes courtesy of Pressed, and the track "Hammerhead" is a real hurter with its incessant bassline, and with both Kyza Smirnoff and Marger on the mic, the rhythm is unstoppable. "Danger" adds Foreign Beggars to the mix and packs a tight bundle of sultry beats, slow-paced grooves and subliminal messaging. We also have both instrumentals and radio edits of each tune - Matt-U is on fire!
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