Unveiled near the close of the first decade of the new millennium, Clubroot entered the canon of the Dub-reflective-arts at a time when the genre had just begun its eventual shift from underground to overground music in terms of character, influence, and intention, which for a time signaled the curtain call on depth, musicality, and subtlety in the genre.
Nevertheless, Clubroot made its mark. A trilogy of purpose-built, pulse driving (yet deep listening) full-lengths and a handful of ep's followed, and in their wake came affectionate recognition, from pitchfork with a “best new music” rating and review, to a series of exclusive mixes on Mary Anne Hobbs' bbc1 radio program. In the succession of as many years, the three Trilogy albums marked the time period, and continue to be fan favourites to this day, outperforming many of the largest names in dubstep by many analytic metrics.
With the trilogy at a close, Clubroot set his sights on other areas of illumination, from photography to travel, with the occasional exclusive DJ gig in places such as Scotland, Poland, and Russia. New compositions would be a regular feature of these rare appearances, and for Clubroot's more fervent fans these events became a once in a lifetime experience.
As such, and near the close of the second decade, influences, inspiration, and cause have all once again converged, and from that will follow the Surface Tension series of ep's. Seasoned listeners will notice the signature sound of an artist they know and love, but with a pace that is somehow more immediate in its delivery and percussive elements, yet more based in the founding roots of classic UK garage. New listeners will find a perfectly form-filled sound which seems to inform all eras of the hardcore continuum, from its 90's roots to the future, all expressed with a signature which cannot be directly compared outside of perhaps the use of extensive multi-genre analogs.
As witnessed in the preceding decades of electronic music fragmentation, it is a bit of a phenomenon that entire threads of sound exist elusively between the tempos and syncopation of rhythm and percussion of each respective genre. just as dubstep was evolved into & somewhat stumbled upon it is somewhat certain that many more areas of illumination lurk in the echoes & shadows of sound.
As has been hinted on sonically with Surface Tension I, Clubroot's previous release & first foray into the second decade of the new millennium, the elusive aforementioned producer from St. Albans has managed to alloy a new sound with the swing and BPM of uk garage, space, air and atmosphere of true dubstep, and with all the unparalleled virtuosity and unmistakable aural DNA of Clubroot, which we dare say is rarely equaled. in doing so, clubroot illuminates the realm of uk garage and electronic music in general towards a currently unforeseen future.
Surface Tension: II further explores these discoveries and further reinvents them in the process. starting with the expansive 'Infatuated'; with its gradual, intensifying movements towards the ultimate reveal, and supported by the equally singular 'Explorer' and 'For You', Surface Tension: II is as much an additional high watermark in clubroot's overall discography as it is a companion piece to Surface Tension: I in both its genre-straddling style and overall ethos, with the vinyl release being pressed on one-time 'solar flare' color vinyl featuring moving original art which stylistically continues the narrative through the as of yet not fully revealed tetraptych.
As 2020 draws to a close the Surface Tension Series reaches its apex with part III, containing a like number of compositions which continue the sound refined and alloyed in the preceding volumes.
The far west has long been known as hollowed ground for Dub Reflective arts, from the birth of Reggae and subsequent Jamaican diaspora to the more recently developments that ultimately informed Dubstep. Many key figures have emerged on the left coast of the USA throughout these developments in Culture and Roots-centric Dubstep, with key among them being the surfacing of LoDubs, and its rise near the advent of the sound in 2006 serving to inform and cement Dub's true DNA at a time when the field of those carrying the torch throughout the region could be counted on a single hand.
Within this formative time period of the first wave of Dubstep those to the north of LoDubs land where also involved in spreading the sound, with one of the key bright lights being Daega Sound of Vancouver BC. Known far and wide for their live PA's and blistering exclusives weaved into them, it was always on the list for LoDubs to team up the with these two fraternal soundmen. That has finally been realized in the form of the two originals on this EP, “Gatekeeper” and “Second Strike”. Adding to that is the don of all dons Kromestar remixing the former with a creation that deftly piles the elements of the original into a swirling ominous tempest in which low, mid, syncopation and jungle-esque flourishes lay waste to the dance. All together a symbolic tome from three veteran stalwarts of the sound, still on top of their game.