In The Joker EP, Biome shows why he is right at the very top of the game. 4 incredibly made pieces of Dubstep mastery, beautifully put together into the first Deep, Dark & Dangerous release of 2021.
Creepy intros, crunchy midbass, crisp and slick drumwork, quirky hooks and crushing sub all categorise this release. Each sample and sound meticulously positioned for maximum effect. Biome has always been the king of making sure everything is in it's right place, less is more, every piece of the puzzle has it's purpose and the whole release is a masterclass in this aesthetic.
We know you are going to love it as much as we do.
Cue up your sound system! The second chapter of Sentry's compilation series is reaching the long-awaited light of day and furthers the notoriety of its lauded artist congregation in the typical high-grade style. Moving into the last quarter of 2020 and from strength to strength with each release, the imprint welcomes plenty of fresh faces to the revered artist roster, such as Arkham Sound, Karnage and Muttley among others. Bridling amid the commotion, returning champions like Cimm, LSN and Substance, as well as the label boss Youngsta himself untether their respective supreme vibrations. To be released as a digital long-player alongside a four-track vinyl sampler - 'Part 2' forms a comprehensive listening journey, truly taking bass music enthusiasts for an extensive and stylistically varied ride. Smoothly fusing meditative soundscapes with its apocalyptic counterparts, the result forms a select composite of some of the scene's brightest talents encapsulated within the heavyweight LP.
Featuring a meticulously curated assortment of bass music flavours, it kicks off with Dub Techno inclinations, ephemeral chords and mesmeric soundscapes in Cimm's 'Glider' - laying it down on a foundation bassline. 'Shottah Kush' by the LSN collective conjures an as electric as industrial mammoth, running things with head-nodding swing and scattered outbursts of otherworldly distortion.
Wandering through the hypnotic temple sounds of 'The Fallen' by Saraphim, 'Tupi' by Japan's CITY1 returns to a full-frontal flute assault, loaded with murderous low-frequency excursions, primed for the dance. More infernal overtones and glitches await in Kali & Senncoria's 'Dragon Shape' - taking listeners on an epic sound design journey.
Sirens from afar, silky strings and high-grade 808's fire through 'Magie' by Muttley, followed up by off-kilter Dubstep at its finest - 'Nug' by Substance & Youngsta, teeming of sonic intricacies. With militant and gripping percussion, Arkham Sound's 'So Jaded' guides through its forceful but evanescent atmosphere.
Taking on the torch, Karnage immolates musing melodies on larger-than-life drums in 'Magitek' - closely tailed by the highly inflammatory contents of Confusious' 'Octane' - radiating shut-down vibes. Wrapped up by spheric harmonies and top-notch 2-Step tendencies in Rednote's 'Albion' - the LP concludes its beautiful journey with a captivating, ruminative meditation of 'Genesis' by Boston's Saltus. Sourced from some of the world's finest artists, both established and new - the mighty Sentry Records syndicate strikes again.
For the second release on his emerging Dark Knight imprint, Dutch producer JLSXND7RS has teamed up with Croydon cult hero Rocks FOE for the two-track instrumental offering “Warren & Justin”, available both digitally and on 12” vinyl.
In the same vein as label debut “Marching”, the title track will already be familiar to attentive grime fans. It first surfaced as a dubplate a few years ago, championed by the likes of Slimzee, Mala and Commodo in their DJ sets, and featured in one of Sir Spyro’s ‘Sounds of the Verse’ freestyles on BBC Radio 1Xtra.
Juxtaposing thunderous 808s and trap-inspired hi-hat rolls with frenetic flurries of violin and striking eastern melodies, the original mix is a cinematic, metamorphosing journey with new twists around every corner. On the flip side, Bristol 140 dons Hi5ghost and Boofy deploy syncopated rhythms, clattering percussion and tense vocal cuts to transform the track into an altogether darker number that’ll leave an equally lasting impression.
ZamZam 82 marks our first collaboration with another label - the mighty Dubquake Records outta Geneva! We’ve long been fans of O.B.F. and Dubquake, so when Von D proposed the collaboration all sides were eager to make it happen.
Nazamba burst on the global sound system scene in 2018 with O.B.F. and the Bug-produced stormer “Vex,” and has since worked exclusively with O.B.F. and Dubquake, releasing two singles and a powerful statement of an LP last year. Firmly in the tradition of the great dub poets such as Prince Far-I, LKJ, and Mutabaruka, Nazamba has digested the lessons of the past and is now changing the game by carving his own niche in the living history of dub poetry. His lyrics are born from lessons learned living in Kingston, and meditations on life, spirit, and the trials imposed by Babylon.
For their next venture, Infernal Sounds brings together two titans in the scene marking #IFS026 with a collaborative EP from returning family member Chad Dubz, and debutant Somah. The Business EP is a goliath, featuring full-throttle sounds on the title track 'The Business' to kick things off properly. 'Naraka' follows in the same vein, producing a rough and rugged low end which you can feel deep in your chest, whilst 'Amplify' provides a stripped back, bass heavy affair. 'Unresolved' closes the EP, rounding things off with a more melodic skanker.
The release has already received some strong support in the scene from the likes of Truth, J:Kenzo, Sicaria Sound, N-Type and many more, making it a must own 12".
Influential Dutch grime producer JLSXND7RS debuts on Dream Eater with the four-track Ceres EP, enlisting MC Armour, a member of the trailblazing N.A.S.T.Y Crew, for vocal duties.
"This EP is something special. The title tune was created together in Los Angeles right before we headed off to Shambhala and then Outlook Festival... two of our most favourite events of the year, so we were able to test it out when it was brand new and fresh.
Tui is a collaboration with NZ Legend Tiki Taane, who plays a bunch of traditional pacific instruments on the track. Shadow Samurai is creepy, dark and melodic, and it's got the funk. Releasing music with DEEP MEDi is like returning home."
'I wrote these tunes in one of these creative moments where everything was flowing so well it felt like the tunes actually made themselves. A lot of analog jamming to give the Ep that distinctive sound and Hermetica was born. Since then the music has been part of many gigs and travels while reading ancient books on Hermetism and symbolism and i'm happy that the learnings come together on this EP'
FKOFv004 is the third physical release from FKOF Records in 2020, following WZ’s FKOFv003 in January and the 2x 12” FKOF10 album celebrating 10 Years of FatKidOnFire earlier this summer. We open with the heavyweight Chad Dubz and Biome collab – ‘455’ – that’s been inspiring gunfingers and screwfaces around the world since being teased online a few months ago. It’s everything you’d hope the combination of two of 140bpm’s finest talents would create: incredible synths, crushing percussive power and atmospherics for days. Pure weight.
“A2 is another Chad Dubz collab, this time featuring Uprise Audio’s boss Eddy Seven on the buttons. ‘Strictly’ has been doing regular damage on the FKOF Sessions show on Subtle Radio and is exactly what its sample says it is – ‘strictly for the sound system’. We signed this one for the mad switch up and the sub that hits harder than a rollercoaster. You’ll know what we mean when you hear this on the system. Absolute rudeness.
“The B-side opens with the only Chad Dubz original mix on the record; the relentlessly effervescent ‘Nilaari’. It’s a production on the rowdier side of what we’d normally sign, but we knew we had to have it when Chad sent it our way. You’ll need a lie down after this one!
“We conclude by welcoming the legendary DJ Madd to FKOF Records for his debut, putting an old school, stripped back flip on ‘455’. The remix evokes the brooding, dangerous dubstep sound from classic Minimal Mondays sets back in the day on Rinse – or the halfstep vibe from 2010-13. It’s a fitting end to what we feel is an incredible record. We hope you agree!
Introduced by a mutual friend, A/T/O/S started creating music together. Their first creation, 'A Taste Of Struggle' was quickly picked up by dubstep pioneer Mala, who signed them to his label DEEP MEDi. Their debut release received an early spin by BBC 6 Music's Mary Anne Hobbs and impressive remixes by Skream and Commodo.
Their upcoming album 'waterman', is the 3rd on DEEP MEDi, following their self-titled debut 'A/T/O/S' and the follow-up 'Outboxed'.
'waterman' once again sees A/T/O/S exploring new territories with their formula of exciting beats and powerful vocals, accompanied by Michiel De Malsche on the keys as their 'secret, not so secret' member in the studio & on stage.
As we keep exploring the outer wilds of dubwise music, we're happy to welcome Jah Schulz with a very special release on the basscomesaveme label.
With more than a handful of releases on Railroad Records, the german dub producer already made himself a name in the soundsystem scene. Legends like Jah Shaka playing his tunes regulary on their sessions. His heavyweight basslines and powerful drums are shakin' up every dance.
For his release on BCSM, Jah Schulz is focusing on the drum and the bass and is creating a heavy bass experience called Dub Over Science. Deep atmospherics combined with lush soundscapes pushing forward to extract the essence of dub. The reduction to the basics of modern dubwise and keeping the traditional way of dub mixing, making these productions extra rough. Ultra low frequencies are shaping the sound of this release to give the listener a unique bass meditation.
This is forward thinking dub music on a remarkable level, which should be checked by every sound nerd and bass head.Dub Over Science showcasing six original productions by Jah Schulz, which been mastered by LXC at Alphacut to give the extra kind of pressure that will shake up any soundsystem.
The record is topped by a special artwork from the talented artist KiTZ. Dub Over Science is available on vinyl and digital and will be dropping soon on basscomesaveme.
a1. Jah Schulz - Dub Can Make A Difference
a2. Jah Schulz - Follow Your Dub Instructions
a3. Jah Schulz - She's A Dub Shooter
b1. Jah Schulz - Dub Over Science
b2. Jah Schulz - Dub Mistakes
b3. Jah Schulz - What Have You Done For Your Dubmaster
This top skanking release from the Dub Conductor music label features two fantastic and legendary vocalists, Sandeeno and Johnny Clarke on the same riddim. Dub Conductor have had some fun in the production, processing both vocals to give a digital feel to the tracks. The end product is a bouncy vibe with some serious bass pressure and inspiring messages throughout. The A side, Sandeeno’s ‘Zion Train’, features a robotic and iconic spoken introduction inviting all ‘Ladies and Gentlemen’ to step on board the zion train or face the wrath of babylon, outlining the theme of the track. Johnny Clarke on the B Side has a much more relaxed message, perfectly suited for reggae skanking. The message is simple. DANCE!