Dubstep Recommendations November 2012

Review: The Submotion Orchestra is an interesting proposition. An eight-piece from Leeds who built their reputation on impressive live performances, they musically join the dots between floor-friendly dubstep, twinkling ambience, comfy neo-soul, broken beat and future jazz. Really, they have all the ingredients to enjoy considerable crossover success. Take this second full-length, for example. There are yearning, emotion-rich downtempo tracks aplenty (see "Snow" and "Sleepwalker"), but also confirmed floorfillers (the jazz-stop heaviness of It's Not Me It's You" and spooky "Thousand Yard Stare"). In between, they deliver a range of slinky, accessible cuts, including one track that sounds like a dubstep take on Steve Reich's "Music For 18 Musicians".

Review: Ireland isn't the first place you'd think of when it comes to sturdy soundsystem dub flavours, but Cian Finn is quickly changing this perception with some deep, driving conscious mic craft. It's clear his years as front man for Irish festival faves Intinn have paid off as we're treated to a series of versions, each one paying attention to a different aspect of dub. Highlights include the sonorous hollow tones of Radikal Guru's version of "Ireland Dub" and the raw stomp of Alpha Steppa's "9 Years Dub". Serious soundsystem material!