Dubstep Recommendations November 2013

Review: Their third album, Brand New Machine sees Chase & Status reach a nirvana-like vein of form. Every single track is impeccable and these are four of the finest examples. "International" pays respect to hip-hop's golden age (notably Nas) and tips a massive nod at formative jungle by way of a Cutty Ranks vocal. "Machine Gun" rifles us back to the modern day with a US-slanted grime piece that stutters and spits with genuine venom. "Gangsta Boogie VIP", meanwhile, sees C&S at their deadliest. Opening with a slick hip-hop lick we're soon thrown deep into the D&B mosh pit with no sign of exit. "Breathing" completes this stunning double pack on a liquid note. Skippy, swift and soulful, it reminds us where the unstoppable duo have come from.

Review: Thelem returns to Innamind after a few excursions on Artikal and Blackbox with two firing examples of why dubstep still excites and amazes in 2013. "Bring Me Down" has been bubbling since Outlook Festival last summer; featuring the emphatic lyrical warnings of emerging MC T Man, it's powered with such a bulbous bass riff you can't help but swagger. "False Imprint" comes with the same level of gritty gravitas; swapping mic-fronting for a series of psychedelic washes, it's another heavyweight from Thelem. Powerful stuff.

Review: Osiris offshoot Lion Charge Records continues its imperious run of 2013 plates with this white label 12" featuring Dirty D and Killawatt and Ipman refixes of Beenie Man's "Stand Firm". Leading the way, Dirty D is on precision form, feeding snaking dancehall pressure through an intricate rhythmic mainframe, Beenie's high octane delivery offered some neat contrast by the swaggering, louche bass line. Down below its alot more rowdy with Killawatt and Ipman turning out a rugged version that sits in the interzone between jungle, hardcore and bashment - superb in other words!

Review: Following a dalliance with Unknown To The Unknown in April, outspoken grime producer Slackk returns to Local Action on which he released the excellent Raw Missions EP last year. The Failed Gods EP is described by the label as delivering six tracks that cover the breadth of "ninjaman club destroyers to beatless synth pieces, with a healthy dose of weed and Twin Peaks in the mix," and easily stands as his strongest release to date; the melancholic video game vibes of "Empty Bottles", stripped-back square waves of "Algiers" and Eastern percussive tones of "Room Made Vague" all stand out as particularly brilliant. If you've not been keeping up with the recent grime resurgence, this is as good a place to start as any.

Review: Destination South Korea for this bouncy halfstep jam; J Path has composed a muscular homage to dubstep's deep side while ensuring a strong sense of funk within the bass and skank pattern. Remix-wise it's all about the UK as Steppas boss Alpha Steppa fuzzes up the blend with nuances of distortion and a far-away melodica blasts. Two fine versions, one solid 10". Let the threshing commence!