PauLo's Wobble Update

It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you.

It's been a good 6 months since my last wobble update. And I have to tell you, things have never looked healthier in the world of dubstep. First things first though, an apology. Well, not so much an apology, just a back track on what I wrote last time round. The subject matter being dubstep albums. Last update, I mentioned that dubstep albums are few and far between. And low and behold, as soon as I posted that, There have been a shed load of dubstep albums released, all demanding your attention. Hopefully, I can give you some insight into the best of the bunch.




Silkie - City Limits Vol. 1
Deep Medi Musik

There is no better place to start than with what has to be my album of the year in any genre. After releasing a handful of 12" on various labels over the past year, the Antisocial Entertainments most well known face has released what can only be described as a ride through what dubstep should sound like. If some of the current crop of producers abandoned the mid range wobble fests that has made dubstep become so popular so quickly and put some thought into their productions, then maybe albums like this wouldn't stand out as much. So in some ways, we have them to thank!

The album itself flows beautifully. It's not often in dubstep that you'll hear actual musical instruments in the songs, but Silkie pours them into the mix and it sounds like they have been there for the whole time. It gives the album a far more human feel to it that can be missing in a lot of dubstep. Stand out tracks like album opener 'Concrete Jungle', 'The Horizon' and 'Beauty' all have luscious piano interlaced into the sub bass and melodic rhythms. Silkie still knows how to make a floor filler though and tracks like 'Turvy' and 'Planet X' are sure to get your hips gyrating with the kind of minimal wobble that will make most producers jealous. Essential listening.

2562 – Unbalanced
Tectonic

Holland’s Dave Huismans AKA A Make Up Sound AKA 2562 has been pretty prolific as of late. Last years ‘Aerial’ was a techno/dubstep hybrid that made people pay attention and his album ‘Shortcut’ under his A Made Up Sound moniker showed that he can add a deep house influence to his sound and keep it interesting. With this, his 2nd release on the excellent Tectonic records, he has combined the two to producer one of my surprises of the year. I’d always admired his work, but it had never really clicked with me until the opening bars of ‘Flashback’ kick in and my head started to bob uncontrollably. Follow that up with the lush vocal samples in ‘Lost’ and you’re off to a perfect start. The albums lose itself a bit in the middle, but ends on a perfect note with the beautiful ‘Love In Outer Space’. Quality sophomore effort.

FaltyDL – Bravery EP
Planet Mu

Proving that it’s not just us Brits that can produce a quality dubstep record, New Yorks very own Drew Lustman AKA FaltyDL is on somewhat of a role at the moment. Just a mere 5/6 months since the release of his album ‘Love Is A Liability’ on Planet Mu, he follows it up with an 8 track EP (also on Planet Mu) that blows the album out the water. Where as the album has very UKG sound to it, this album leans more towards a more ‘wonky’ style. The beats are all over the place, but never sound out of place. On first listen, it sounds like a complete head fuck. But on repeated listens, you realise it really is an EP that’s made for the dance floor. Opener ‘Made Me Feel So Right’ is perfect example. The beats sound out of time, but when you turn it up and listen carefully, you can’t help but want to work out the drum patterns and drum on whatever surface is near you with your fingers. A pretty special release that proves that, at the moment, Planet Mu really are ahead of the game.

King Midas Sound – Waiting For You
Hyperdub

The first in a long line of highly anticipated releases on Kode9’s Hyperdub label (the others being Ikonika and Darkstar), King Midas Sound unleash the chilling ‘Waiting For You’ on a baying throng of dub-heads wanting something a little bit different. King Midas Sound are Kevin Martin AKA The Bug and vocalist Roger Robinson and, after a string of EP’s and 12”’s, offer you a trip that has everyone talking. Kevin Martins mellow yet sometimes disturbing beats make your head nod but can also send a chill down your spine whilst Roger Robinsons (mostly) eerie vocals only add to the haunting overall feel of the album. Stand out tracks include ‘Outtaspace’, which sounds like it could be on a soundtrack to the best sci-fi film ever, the spooky ‘Goodbye Girl’ and, by far the best track on the album, ‘Lost’, which sounds like a cross between Portishead and the beats that RZA was making in the late 90’s. Not all the tracks have an immediate impact, but the album as whole is a slow burner, so that’s no reason to mark it down. Here’s hoping the rest of Hyperdubs output for the next 3 to 4 months are as good as this one.

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There have been a number of other albums that have come out this year that also deserve a mention. Martyn released ‘Great Lengths’ earlier in the year to critical acclaim and Phaeleh released the beautiful ‘Within The Emptiness’ only a couple of weeks ago and raised the bar for anyone making chilled out dubs. There have been other, less noteworthy album also released this year, but I’d rather stay focused on the positive this time round, so you’ll have to wait till the next update for what’s likely to be a large dose of negativity toward certain area’s of the genre!

Before I sign off though, I want to mention one name… James Blake. He may not be too well known at the moment, but if his future output is as good as his one release (the perfect ‘Air & Lack Thereof/Sparing The Horses’ 12” that’s available now on Hemlock Recordings) and his one remix (Untold’s ‘Stop What You’re Doing’, also available on Hemlock from the 16/11/2009), then 2010 is going to be an absolutely huge year for the boy.

Show me your bassface.