Review: Following 'Dreams' earlier this year Russian sub server Blocklab returns to White Peach to knock our blocks off again. 'Billy Brandon' sets the scene with a classic bouncer sample the older heads will probably recognise. It's backed up by a beautiful range of flavours... 'Motto' is all about the woozy, wavy modernist wobbles, 'Smoog' brings that slinky, sleazy funk like Silkie while 'Ocean Floor' sweeps us clean with pure emotion. One of the most interesting new dubstep producers to emerge in recent years; big shouts to Blocky.
Review: Long running dubstep purveyors Duploc deliver an ultra-toothy new one from producer Coltcuts, a one-track-mind of pure sizzling heat from the UK. 'Antidote' launches with a banging slice of bass and crunch overlaid with a hook of derision from rapper PAV4N, who rides the beat with invective chagrin, throwing shade on the clout-chasing hangers-on present at the system stage. Then come the instrumental goods: 'Madhouse' maddens with its chipped-out bloops and underfoot-rattling womp-basses, while 'Menace' menaces with its sinusoidal wobbles and cavernous verbs, and 'Real Talk' offers a candid intervention with a wendigo's worth (that's about 26 basslines, to be exact) of synthetic cackles and growls.
Review: Hamdi presents DUPLOC with two of his most sought-after dub plates on this sizzling new 12", plus a bonus vinyl-one cut. The 'Selecta' EP comes three years after his one and only other record and kicks off with the title track, a menacing low-slung buzzer. The drums make heavy rotations beneath a synth one that zips about with future energy. 'Immortal' then layers up another fat low-end oscillation and crisp hits while 'Peace' has a more prickly percussive vibe and suspensory feel topped with grime vocals. Three sound systems winners, for sure.
Review: Excellent, blindingly techy new offering from Machinedrum & Holly. The pair channel glossy, post-internet trap, early 00s Coki-esque dubstep skwelch and all the best parts of contemporary d&b. 'VSN 122' comes with all the rushy euphoria of the best pop-adjacent, accessible dance music records, but maintains its edge with shards of unorthodox sound design and texture- take the wild bowed cymbal-sounding wubs in 'Novaform' or the unhinged FM action and distant vocal hollering on 'Luminae' for instance. Over the course of a mere six tracks, Machinedrum & Holly weave a complex tapestry of club affect, from the languid spa-hop of 'Blueshift' to the overtly poppy rush of 'Hide Sun'. Forward!
Review: Sneaker Social regulars Alan Johnson return to the label with more unclassifiable gems. All flexing that bewitching, beaty brew of percussion, smoking 808s, shattered beats and crafty sampling, each cut hits with a direct physical groove. From the System-level dubsteppy title track to the more organic haze and swoons of the finale 'People Of The World', the UK duo have once again weaved a fine line between so many genres without committing to any. Tonnes of love..
Review: East London MC Jus Rival teams up with Camden's Joe Fire here for a hard-hitting new track 'G.M.S (Gun Man Sound).' Following their previous collaboration on 'Dangerous Settings,' the duo builds on their undeniable chemistry for another explosive release with some serious low-end heft. Produced by grime heavyweight Spooky Bizzle, the brass-laced instrumental provides the perfect backdrop for both MCs to shine and Jus Rival opens with a catchy hook and sharp bars, while Joe Fire takes over with a playful, yet commanding verse. Accompanied by a slick visual directed by Honey JD,tihs one is defined by its dynamic delivery and relentless energy.
Review: We've been saying for a hot minute that a dubstep reveal is due, if not already here - even though, as is the case with any revival, the purists will say the sound never went away. We would like to submit as supporting evidence this reissue of a stone cold classic split 12" from 2009 from serious dubstep heavyweights Loofah and Coki. It came on the pioneering Deep Mehdi Musik label and some 14 years on still has plenty of dark late night allure and killer low end wobble. Two definitive tracks that we can't wait to start hearing out again on loud systems.
Review: UK imprint White Peach have served up all things dubstep since before you likely developed any sense of taste. That's because they made yours; 'Likesss' is the latest set of sonic fruits from rising producer Moreofus, and continues to convince us of White Peach's ability to sway our low-end-erring predilections. Through its ploddy trap, midrange growls, triplet transitions, riotous vocal textures, and pistol-whipping snares - B2 'Menace' coming as the night-bussed, heavy-deep drill highlight - Moreofuss seems set to rack up a lot of 'Likessss' indeed...
Review: The second instalment of Brownswood Recordings' Remix Editions series features two dancefloor hitters; one from new kids on the block Izco & Reek0 and the other from sub-bass heavyweight Coki. Each producer turning their hands to a remix from a different track from Oreglo's debut EP, 'Not Real People', both efforts turn out to be massive. Izco and Reek0's version of 'Levels' opens the proceedings with a stargazing march, fusing motifs of amapiano, carnival and UK jazz. Coki's flipside is much more dubious, working in a much lower dubstep register, and filtering Oreglo's original 'Opedge' jazz instrumentation into a mnemonic groundwork for a grime-caked heater.
Review: Apocalypto! Foreign Beggar PAV4N lays down some hard hitting truths with the hard hitting Truth and the results are sizzling in moody futurist fusion. 'Brave New World' (with Saskilla) marches us slap bang into the middle of a 23rd century war, 'Pythons' slithers with so much attitude you can feel squeezing you, softening you up for Pav's lunchtime treat. 'Online Overdose' (with Ashez) hurls us into a neon swing, pinging through the arpeggiated sci-fi swagger before 'Pyrex Jackie' goes straight up Universal Soldier. Metal jacket tackle.
Review: It's been a while since we last saw Sepia on Infernal Sounds but rolling deep with Rider Shafique, he fits right back into the groove with the sublime and title track 'Time Stands Still'. A fitting title for a dreamy vibe, it's backed up by a wide range of gems... 'Gatekeeper' is sludgy, gloom-coated creeper, 'Whispers' sees him teaming up with Ickle for an icy swagger while 'Trust' closes the EP on a gentle, woozy tip. Timeless.
Review: Old Clarty pants Spooks switches up his brand for a new heavy hitting series of club jams. Kicking off with 001, there's a very distinctive bite to this ghost's bark as he goes in on the heavier tear-out vibes with 'Shark Attack'. Deeper into his ocean we plunge as 'Quiet Storm' sucks us down into the sand and 'Sitting Bull' flips for an upbeat early 2000s breakbeat garage type of mission. 'Gas Mark' brings this bloodclart bake-off to a tasty but very messy finish. Sheesh what a set. Spooky never misses but this is some serious Bizzle even for him. Essential.
Review: Yuku come correct with this special blue vinyl remix 12". Two vibes per side, both Traka and Granul go under the knife. On one side we have Serbian crew Traka under scrutiny as Commodo flips 'Yosai' into a menacing slab of tension while Muqata takes the Killa P-fronted 'Start Taking Note' into a brutalist sonic rainbow. Flip for two remixes of Turkish maverick Granul; Jtamul turns two-step inside out with stacks of eerie space on 'Deformity' while Iskeletor turns 'Interconnected' into the twisted, halftime heaver of your dreams. Stark sermons!
Review: Grime legends Trends, Boylan and Slimzee have made independent names for themselves over the years for their enduring contributions to the underground; the former two artists first cropped up on our radar after a string of horror-movie-themed grime bits which first proliferated virally on the internet. Slimzee, on the other hand, has been there from the beginning, co-founding the legendary Rinse FM pirate station among other things. We can't contain our excitement for this fresh, psychotic release for Etch's Sneaker Social Club; returning to the trio's penchant for oppressively trappy instrumentals, there are newer explorations in breakstep and garage, fleshing out the many teeth-gritted possibilities of the eight-bar rhythm. Haunting, atrophied sonic skeletons from a dream trio.
Review: Get your 'Freak' on! White Peach are reissuing this doozy of 12" from Yoofee and not before time, too. Originally released in 2021, and still sounding years ahead of the pack, 'Calibration' takes the lead in all its bouncy, steppy glory. It's backed up by plenty more heat... The four-to-the-floor switches on 'Freak', the depth plunge subby funk of 'OK Cold' and the super creepy graveyard gravy finale 'Negative Released'. Positive release.
Review: It's not often we pass on much trappy EDM to listeners at Juno, but Eprom is a special case, having made a name for himself for pushing the glossy post-dubstep trap style that made many artists like him famous. At the same time, Barclay Crenshaw (Claude VonStroke) is another name in the EDM world whose direction isn't quite the same as Eprom's, but nevertheless shares a space with the former artist for having also remixed Yung Skrrt's wilfully trashy hit 'McDonalds' of late. As both artists have dropped their respective cuts in many a DJ set all over the world, Skrrt's label DIRTYBIRD have now orchestrated a meeting of the two minds - not least to mention this juicy vinyl compilation of the two remixes.
Review: Garage powerhouse Zed Bias is back with more old school garage brilliance with the new single 'Shell Them Again' featuring the vocals of Yung Saber and Brakeman. The original has plenty of retro signifiers from the low-end wobble to the withering synth effects, plus crisp hits and jostling drums. After the dub mix comes a remix from Zed himself alongside Safire which is much more dirty and raw. The beats are broken up so the track takes on a dubstep quality as the low-end oscillations bring the weight and drums hit with more force. Finally, the acappella closes out this fresh 12" on IFG.
Review: Zha brings together element of dubstep, grime and trap on his latest 12" for the Naan crew. It is his first outing of the year following solid slabs of wax for the likes of White Peach and this label dating back to 2015. This one kicks off with 'Spice,' which has bass tones pinging about the mix with big hits, snatched vocal yelps and dusty drums all keeping you on your toes. 'Grief' is darker and dirtier thanks to the filthy great oscillation that rips up the swaggering rhythm and 'Harm' gets deep on some pensive pads and intoxicating melodic sounds. 'Two Rumours' closes down with sub so warm and cuddly it's like being hugged by a new duvet.
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