Having established herself as one of Bristol’s most exciting new faces on the scene, local selector Yushh has turned her attention to the groundswell of talent the city has to offer when it comes to the cross-section of bass music with her new label project, Pressure Dome.
Tied together by syncopated rhythms and broken beats, each producer featured brings their own style, tempo and atmosphere. The first release from this new imprint provides a range and depth that reflects Bristol’s musical versatility, from newcomer Syz whose contribution follows highly praised releases on Only Ruins and Brotherhood Sound System, to some of the city’s newest party starters to rise through the ranks.
The journey begins with Syz and Yushh, both showcasing intricate percussion and delicate melodies that roll with energy over subby baselines. On the flip, Mish brings a chugged out, wobbly techno treasure with hints of dancehall rhythms. Mulengasound then bringing the atmosphere and space, perfect for that warm-up transition and Balouu’s playful Egyptian melodies and strong, Arabesque synth-lines close the party.
All five tracks ooze individuality, yet subtly tie together with influences and sounds of a city that naturally nurtures progressive experimentalism. Pressure Dome’s offering is a fine example of burgeoning collective, with like-minded producers set on an uncompromising approach to the broken beat.
Following his debut outing on our most recent compilation, Delay Grounds is back with three bass heavy submissions, each bubbling with effervescent melodies that twist and transform into the imitation of their phonetic namesakes.
On the A-side, Coruscant builds and modulates with glitching rhythms and glittering synths, leading us onto the storming tantrum of Stompy; both tracks demonstrating the innovative intricacy we’ve come to expect from this burgeoning producer.
On the flip, Clatter’s playful yet introspective trajectory completes Delays Grounds’ solo excursion with fellow newcomer, Suze tapping the brakes in their explosive “Heeley Mix” to round off the EP.
Onomatopoeia's inviting digital landscape offers us an uplifting, yet ponderous escape during these times of uncertainty and change.
Pressure Dome welcome in the new year with their second vinyl direct from the test-bed, a split EP showcasing two rhythmically focused beat-architects; Joe Craven and Human Resources.
Following a head-turning debut release on Scuffed Recordings, Joe Craven delivers two more imaginatively designed polyrhythmic workouts. Airy, distant pads and delicate percussion roll over driving kicks, giving ‘Hurt Potential’ its detailed futuristic landscape while ‘Dyeus’, with its high tempo distorted breaks, chopped vocals and distant piano riffs takes us to an altogether more abstract space.
On the flip, Human Resources takes us forward in his own singular style with the thunderous ‘Shaq Stem Edit’, combining cymbal heavy breaks, huge subs and prodigy like bass leads that mutate with club-shattering velocity, and on to ‘At Tanagra’, where pitching leads and sporadic, wonky mid basslines hold a tough, yet mysterious energy and drive.
Both enter the Dome with their individual technical form, the perfect additions to our collective of phonic explorers.
