Dubstep Recommendations August 2012

Review: The highly anticipated Mala 12" on Gilles Peterson's Brownswood imprint has landed. Unlike Mark Lawrence's previous releases, which are primarily expressive of the UK urban environment, Cuba Electronic relies on Latin American influences to delve deeper into the artist's own personal take on dub music. The title track on Side A sees Mala bring out his trademark percussion but this time it's more grounded in tribal roots, where skipping bongos and heavy hi-hats collide with his well-known love for subbass levels.On the flip, "Calle" is further based around Cuban musical heritage, where a fast, progressive percussion makes way for stunning trumpet samples and shiny melodies. Another fine instalment of UK-flavoured electronic music from the gifted Mala, which comes in heavy 180gm vinyl!

Review: Hyperdub's year of excellence continues apace with the release of Playing Me, the long awaited debut album from Cooly G. Emerging as a key figure in the UK funky scene some four years ago via some highly prized Dub Organiser CDrs, Cooly's musical progression has been charted via a series of EPs for DVA Music and Hyperdub. On this thirteen track album what is most apparent is the confidence this South London producer has in her own singing, a voice that sounds dipped in pain and anguish at times. At others Cooly utilises her vocal delivery as an integral part of the music, which draws from all manner of UK music history of recent times whilst very much sounding part of her modern house template. Oh and there's a Coldplay cover to end the LP too...

Review: As the dancefloor still rumbles with the after effects of his double A with Tunnidge earlier this year, Distance returns to Chestplate with yet more bass drama! "A Result Of Sound" carries the hallmarks of his more emotive material that we've enjoyed on his albums on Planet Mu. Paranoid and post apocalyptic, the synths play just as much as a role in this as the absurdly weighted bass does. "Deserted" on the flip is the true club bomb; sprung with poly-rhythmic kicks and groaning lead lines, this will raise more hairs on your dancefloor than London's notorious wig thief in 1938.

Review: 
Consequence delivers a couple of razor sharp, on point half-step cuts on the ever-reliable Tempa imprint. "Injunction" builds gradually from a stripped back intro of a smacking snare drum and glowering atmospherics into an ominous main part, replete with breathy vocal, bubbling subs and an eerie gloom, becoming almost tribal towards the end. The accompanying "Chamber Music" is just as hypnotic with its hushed chanting, speckled beats and throbbing bass. This is music for the heads, no question.

Review: Dubstep and soul... not the two most common beat bedfellows, but when combined with such salubrious sonic skill, it really does work. Colonel Red's vocal delivery isn't dissimilar to the likes of Amp Fiddler or Jack Splash as he cries out with emotion across each of the three tracks. Each cut comes with its own distinctive style; from Rustie-like stuttering wonkiness ("Spaceface") to more conventional street soul ("Soulridin"). The highlight for us, however, is "Sleeper"... If Alexander O'Neil was born 30 years later, this is where he'd be at!

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.

Review: Ahead of their hotly anticipated second album, LV are in rabble-rousing Kwaito mode on their new single for Hyperdub. Re-aligning with rowdy MC Okmalumkoolkat on the lead track "Sebenza", it's he who holds the song together with his assured flow while the groove splays manically around neon daubs of melody and hyperactive beats. "Get A Grip" pumps a cheeky trade in peak-time floor wrecking goodness, full of the crafty production that L.V. have made their name on, while "Zulu Compurar" cools things off for a brief stint in technological lyric references and a gentle Funky excursion. As ever the synths rule the day, buzzing and humming with an innate wonkiness that creates the very charm of this singular music.