New releases last eight weeks: Deep Dubstep

Review: Definitely one of the most haunting and quite possibly one of the most seminal cuts Mala has ever made, the show-stopping 'Changes' enjoys a long overdue re-press. Whether you were around when it first dropped in 2007 and never caught the wax, or you've since discovered it from many different samples such as XXXTENTACION's 'Look At Me' or The Game's 'Holy Water', this is an iconic piece of 140 music that transcends genres and generations. A contemporary classic, nothing less.

Review: Brussels' Sagat is making ever more of a name for himself with his bass-heavy sounds and wonky perspective on rhythm. This time out he blends great harmony, trippy designs and innovative groove patterns on an EP for the fledgling Private Stress. '8 Legs' is a roaming percussive rattler, 'Floor Structure' taps into classic bass and dub and 'Yeah Tomorrow' brings more light and airy melody over a skiing and broken beat low end that makes you want to rise to your toes. 'DN2' shuts down with a menacing atmosphere and eerie pads.

Review: Munich's Ilian Tape is best known for its killer breakbeat driven techno sounds but various sub-labels and series also delve into ambient and, in this case, trap beats and grimy production. Sustrapperazzi hails from Hastings in the UK and make a great impression with the first volume of this Beat Tape. 'Part 2' is another one with late night menace, gritty textures and urban swagger all tempered by some meaningful melodies and indelible pads. It's an absorbing instrumental journey into nocturnal London with killer cuts like 'Japan Drillings' and 'Learn Suttin' parting physical low ends and screw basslines with emotive little vocal hooks and fragments of melody.

Review: We've always been hip to deep dubstep and Naan does it better than most. Their latest transmissions is from Zha who offers up an eclectic EP that seamlessly fuses Bollywood, dubstep, UK garage and breaks. The genre-defying journey begins with 'Quit Dreaming, Grow Up' which serves as a heartfelt ode to artists navigating the delicate balance between crafting their work and the fleeting nature of its consumption. Both a celebration and a reflection, the rest of the release captures the tension between creative passion and the relentless pace of modern music culture, so is impactful on many levels at once.

Review:  South London's Loefah has long been a pivotal figure in the UK's underground evolution, particularly on the bossier end of the spectrum. The cut figure is a master in the club too and this recording from the iconic Bloc Weekender in 2011 proves that as it now gets pressed up to a brand new cassette from the Never Sleep charity tape series. It showcases UK club futurism by blending hybrid transatlantic sounds with vibrant MC SP. Featuring soon-to-be Swamp81 classics, the set fuses Miami-style bass, hip-hop elements and UK hardcore into the darker, more melody-driven side of 2011 sounds. All proceeds benefit Lives Not Knives who support youth projects in South London.

Review: A charged, limber ode to Britain's 90s outdoor free party stomping grounds, with which a young Low End Activist was all too familiar. Over nine evocatively named tracks, he fractures and reassembles early 90s hardcore shards (shardcore?) into wabi sabi sonic sculptures somewhat resembling similar rave reconstitutions from Skrs and Fracture. These feel more to the point than both though, foregoing free sample-bashing in favour of driving, sparse, repetitive hoover collage landing firmly within the hardcore continuum but still managing to sidestep cloying nostalgia. 'Ardkore nouveau posse assemble!

Review: Moeller expands his dub techno expertise into the 170 BPM d&b realm, crafting a full-length journey that feels both natural and innovative. Known for his cavernous sound design and machine soul, his shift to d&b territory is a seamless fit for the Samurai label, where evolving rhythms and fresh palettes are integral to the modern club scene. The album stands apart with its hypnotic arrangements, deep textures and monolithic reverb, showcasing his legacy and mastery of sound. The tracks blend club-ready physicality with introspective moments, offering a balance of dancefloor energy and headphone-worthy detail. From the snarling feedback to soaring synths and intricate drum patterns, each element is sculpted with precision, revealing his ability to capture both intensity and subtlety. Teeming with soul and engineered to perfection, this release highlights the producer's unique approach to 170 BPM, offering some of his finest work yet. The album is a masterful exploration of sound and rhythm, with attention to every detail, which is a hallmark of Brendon's meticulous fine tuning of dance music.

Review: A vrooming new V/A comp from London's bass music bacchanals 1985 Music, following up a sellout show at the Roundhouse earlier in 2024. Helmed up by pensive liquid purveyor come bass musical all-rounder Alix Perez, the label now compile several star tracks from throughout the year, setting them side-by-side on wax for the first time. Including trax by Perez, Drone, Cesco, Visages, Hijinx and Onhell, the general movement is from sociopathic grimescape though to bear trap tricksiness, shortly tied up in an extended jungle and d&b coda on the B; Paige Julia's 'Indisputable' is as brazenly fearless as Flowdan's opening flows are, though a continual liquefaction occurs therefrom; the best element heard towards the end has to be the erratic bubblegum cutups heard on Visages' 'Dol Guldur'.