Juno Recommends Dubstep February 2021

Review: London-based producer Silkie started working on this album around two years ago, without knowing he was making an album, he claims. Being able to concentrate and enjoy being in the flow and without the pressure of creating a fully formed product allowed him more musical freedom. When the idea of a full LP was born, he approached it 'like a label would', listening to the music that resulted and trying to weave a cohesive thread through the track selections - capturing a snapshot in time of his musical journey. The result is Panorama, which sees him return to Mala's Deep Medi Musik with his brand of deep dubstep and experimental beats, which venture deep into the exotic and reach near psychedelic moments.

Review: The second chapter of Sentry's compilation series furthers the notoriety of its lauded artist congregation, welcoming plenty of fresh faces to the revered artist roster. A four-track vinyl sampler, Syndicate Part 2 takes (as the label best said themselves) 'bass music enthusiasts for an extensive and stylistically varied ride'. KALI & Senncoria take dubstep into world music realms on 'Dragon Shape', LSN bring UK bass music forward on the urban grit of 'Shotta Kush', Substance teams up with label head honcho Youngsta on the blunted late night grime experiment 'Nug', and on what was probably our favourite track on here, Cimm presents a unique take on dub techno with the cavernous and glacial 'Glider'.

Review: Infernal Sounds return with family member Chad Dubz (Foundation Audio) alongside debutant Somah - the latter previously of Deep Medi Musik, Scrub A Dub and Chord Marauders fame. The Business EP features the wonky wall of sound of the title track and its proper progressions in grime, followed by the sinister street level futurism of 'Naraka' going down a dark dubstep route. On the flip, the dread infused mediative dub on "Amplified" is an EP highlight, followed by the equally minimal and contemplative halftime journey "Unresolved".

Review: Italian vocalist Marina P is the guest on this new 12", and she brings something different than anyone who knows her work might expect. On the brand new single from the forthcoming Radikal Guru album 'Beyond The Borders', she offers a soulful and human counterpart to the shiny metallic drums and urban dubstep bass all around her. She muses on the struggles communities face in the modern day and the mediative beats only serve to heighten the message. The original is backed by two roots style exclusive remixes by the Guru himself.

Review: The inaugural release for new Belgian label Basskruit comes from Sweepa of Version Collective, featuring the producer Tosti (Foundation Audio). The ?Kopstoot EP features some deeply reflective and hypnotic expressions in deep dubstep as best heard on the title track, which is chased up by an immersively rhythmic remix by label co-head Hebbe (Overdue/Next Level Dubstep). In addition, we have the groovy and bass driven party vibe of 'Ketel' over on the flip, which also gets treated to yet more worthy renditions. The mesmerising polyrhythms of TMSV's perspective were bang on, while Redquake's low end pulsations add more to an altogether dense, wall of sound presentation - killer!

Review: The latest single from 140 mainstay Hebbe Versteegh is certainly a fetching and enticing item, not least because we've never seen a yellow, marbled 10-inch before. Of course, it's the music that really matters, and we're happy to say that both tracks here are genuinely impressive. A-side 'Quiche' is both weighty and tuneful, with fluttering, almost oriental synthesizer melodies and creepy electronics rising above echoing chords, an action-packed bassline and deep dubstep beats. Flipside 'Looters' is darker and creepier in tone, with intoxicating electronics enveloping an ultra-deep bassline and a snappy, echo-laden beat.