Dubstep Recommendations April 2013

Review: Could "Asteroids" be the most perfect name for a tune that sounds like it was made in out of space? Blast off with that first sonar blip and gracefully float away, dodging the soft rhythmic asteroids as you bob freely. Interestingly "Over My Head" is the same beat but with the cosmic yearning of Mel Dymond. With a far-away, distracted delivery she's not far off "Protection" era Massive Attack. For added trippiness and a gorgeous building slo-mo stomp flip for Om Unit's remix.

Review:  Recently revisited by RSD on the Broken Beats album, Horace highlight "Cuss Cuss" gets two superb reworks from DJ Madd and TMSV. The former goes for a starker, more traditional dub vibe, allowing the original riff to play a lead role in the arrangement while the rich steppy beats drive the groove forward. TMSV flips for more of a traditional dubstep flavour with a more prominent halfstep and uglier bassline. Both versions are incredible. No cussing please...

Review: YES! El B is back on the newly relaunched Bison Recordings with some of that proper dubstep business! The UKG legend first hinted at Bison's return almost 12 months ago, slipping out a brief clip of the heavyweight roller "Club Music (I Keep The Club Moving) on his Soundcloud - that it's taken till now for it to surface on wax can be forgiven seeing as Bison has been dormant for over a decade. The aforementioned track is the perfect complement of tuff, sub heavy dubstep riddims and ruff vocals from MC D-Twist and comes backed with the harsh mid range 2 stepper "Ghost In Your Stereo".

Review: MAJOR heat abounds on this. Mysterious act ATOS have delivered a smouldering slab of fractured, future soul. Sitting on its own island somewhere between Massive Attack, Submotion Orchestra and Burial, it's utterly beautiful. Naturally Skream's remix hits every spot. With shuddering half steps and a re-imagined vocal arrangement, it's like a whole new tune. Commodo, meanwhile, opts for strange jazzed out percussion and a dampened trippiness on the vocal. Three unique versions; each one of them stunning. Don't miss this.

Review: Amid his current announcements that he will be playing house, techno and disco at all performances from now on, Ollie Jones unleashes the seventh instalment of previously unreleased material. Ranging from the sultry pop soul of the Kelis-fronted "Copy Cat" to the classic Croydon savagery of "Vacillate" and "Scrooge's Revenge", it's one of the broadest "Skreamizm" collections to date. For an idea of his new sonic ventures head for "Sticky": it's like Alter Ego but with grittier, more Londoncentric charms.

Review: Last seen remixing a Horace Andy classic, DJ Madd ensures the prolific prefix is in no danger of slipping with Never 2 Late, the first release on his newly helmed Roots & Future label. The Hungarian dubstepper is renowned for his heads down, gun fingers up take on the genre with output on the likes of Black Box and Wheel & Deal, Roots & Future sees him look to reggae and dub for influence and both are apparent on this debut 12". Japanese vocalist G Rina adds a delicate element to the title track, whilst the delayed horns and sirens add some dredd pressure to a heavy stepping rhythm that shudders with bass weight. Prepare yourselves for the accompanying "Murder Dub" which is dominated by a huge bass riff.

Review: Uh-oh, here comes Troubl! And he's branding a cheeky vinyl re-release of his third album Avalanche. Originally released in 2011, it still sounds just as relevant with enough shades and styles to keep it future proof for a long to time to come. Like the Dilla-does-garage wonkiness of "Take Off". Like the dreamy 8-bit bouncer "Huskii". Like the more dramatic, stadium-ready vocal trancer "Cure". Shucks... Like the whole darn album. The only trouble here is if you already picked this up first time around.

Review: Some might ask if "State Of Mind" is techno? Others might ask if it's dubstep. We'd rather ask whether you even need to know... Rolling, looping and unfathomably deep, "State Of Mind" wafts with an infectious physical groove, it kicks the tired old genre discussion deep down into the gutter. "Fox Wing", meanwhile, is indeed dubstep. Perfectly executed dubstep at that; spacious, resonant and laced with just a smidgeon of eastern charm. Heavy!

Review: Repress alert! Wednesday: Hyperdub announce a new three track release from enigmatic producer Burial - his first solo work in four years. Thursday: Said records arrive on Juno doorstep. How's that for service (and secrecy)! The news came just a matter of days after the producer's collaboration with Radiohead front man Thom Yorke and Four Tet arrived on record shelves across the UK and promptly sold out amidst a frenzy of hype. There are three new tracks on offer here, namely "Street Halo", "NYC" and "Stolen Dog". First up "Street Halo" showcases the classic Burial sound; subterranean bass gurgles, trademark clicking beats and barely-there vocal snatches. A sweet childlike vocal pervades the sonic mist on "NYC" while "Stolen Dog" closes out with ethereal vocal harmonies buried deep beneath vinyl crackle. Stunning.

Review: Following up last year's work on "Cloud Body" Montreal's Grown Funk head south to the Bay Area for more hyphy sleaze fests. Dreamy but armed with attitude, Main Attraktionz's tag-team harmonies fall softly over Grown Folk's woozy beat work, allowing both parties to cut through the mix. Highlights include Kuedo's somnambulant remix of "ICE" and the tongue-in-cheeky lyrics on "Double MOB". Head in clouds? Good... Keep it there.

Review: Warmcomms offshoot Pushing Red maintains its position at the very forefront of the bass coalface with this rich two-piece set from Exit Music face Consequence. Stepping away from the D&B and leaning more toward his experimental side, here we find him going all Falty DL on "Atrium". With an off-beat jack and garage-like bass slurs, it's just as ghetto as it is graceful. "Box Rituals" is more the deeper, dream-like material we've previously known him for. Floating with just the right amount of mourn, it's essential for headphones and floors alike.