When it comes to the deep, dark and dangerous side of dubstep, I know I can always trust Phantom Hertz to deliver, so naturally, I was pretty excited to receive a copy of their forthcoming compilation release, Low Voltage Volume 25, presented by Forensics (who you might remember put a guest mix together for us not so long ago).
Anyway, once I clocked the tracklist, I knew this was gonna be a good one, starting off with the first of Krytikal's tunes on the release.
It's that time of year when every site gives its take on the best tracks to be released this year, and of course, Night Tracks is jumping right on that bandwagon. To avoid any bias, I haven't included anything released by Night Tracks, so read on, and check out the tunes. Maybe you'll pick up a gem that you haven't heard before, or maybe you'll just enjoy reading my rambling take on 50 tracks. Read on for the first 10, numbers 50 to 41...
50. Everlone - Starred(from 2011 (Self Released))
This track was one that I discovered some months ago, but only discovered it had been released about a week or so ago. A great track, minimal garage, with traditional distant vocals coming in amongst lush pads. A simple track, yet very effective.(Buy here)
49. Trashbat - Saraswati (Hard Mix)(from Old Manor Way EP (Dubstrict Records)
Trashbat doing what Trashbat does best, and that is ultra-dark, warping mid-range over seriously deep subs. This was on one of the most underrated releases of the year, his Old Manor Way EP, that contained 5 tracks that made it seriously hard for me to pick the best. (Buy here)
48. Kid Smpl - Gbye (from Collapse EP (Self Release))
This track almost typifies Kid Smpl's style. Immersive pads, and drums that almost sneak up on you. The slower than usual 2-step drums that come into play are a particular highlight and everything comes together in a track that has elements from the past, but is definitely forging a vision of the future. (Buy here)
47. Sweetheart Of Kairi - Approaching Farewell (from Sweetheart Of Kairi EP (Self Released))
Two of the most dynamic producers in the underground today, Owsey and Sorrow, came together in a series of collaborations for their Sweetheart Of Kairi moniker. Combining cinematic strings and pads with top notch swinging drums, they've come together to create something that doesn't sit comfortably anywhere, and it's all the better for it. (Buy here)
Everyone knew that an LV album was going to be good, just not THIS good. This track is one of the darker affairs on the album, Routes, located near the end, bringing you down after the many highs of the album. Makes for a perfect outro though, and Josh Idehen's delivery only adds to it. (Buy here)
45. Krytikal - Selfish Way(from Area Music Vol. 1(Area Recordings))
For me, this was the standout track from a seriously impressive release by the Birmingham based Area Recordings. Nobody gets the eyes down, tribal dubstep thing as well as Krytikal does, and this track is no different. (Buy here)
Perfectly straddling the line between UK Garage and Techno, this track from Sweden's Alexander Berg completely blew the A-side 'Tundra' out of the water. Whilst this hasn't taken off yet, I can see this being the sort of track collectors franticly dig for in years to come, only to find it available exclusively on discogs for £40. (Buy here)
43. Silent Mind - Farwater(from Farwater (Self Released))
Dreamy, minimal dnb as it should be done. Silent Mind is on to something here, and its great to see him amongst a group of producers that are doing something different in a scene that some say is saturated with sound-a-likes. (Buy here)
Black Box might've been pushing records since 2009, but 2011 was the year they really made their mark, thanks in part to badmen like Benton, who took things darker than ever before. (Buy here)
41. The Weeknd - The Morning (from House Of Balloons (Self Released))
Abel Tesfaye was a veritable force in 2011. Some love him for shaking up a boring RnB scene with innovative production from Illangelo, and lyrics that at least attempted to differentiate themselves from the standard. This track just oozed soul, and that's something that's always going to go down well. All for free too. Big up. (Buy here)
So that's all for now, the first ten tracks. Take some time to listen to them all, who knows, maybe even buy some of the ones you like? Check back soon for 40 to 31...
Just a reminder for Birmingham heads, that if you have any interest in bass heavy music, and want to hear it on a good system with some good people, then come down to Club PST in Digbeth on Friday, for Movement.
The night stays true to the original dubstep vibe, dark room, big system, DJs playing vinyl. No shirtless bros, and no moshing, just vibes.
Went on my pretty regular trip to the Post Office to pick up another batch of vinyl that I missed because I'm never in. I was driving to work racking my brains, couldn't remember what I'd ordered. Got to work, and I realised it was this badboy. Area Recordings Vol. 1.
I was fortunate enough to be up late enough to bag some of the pre-release copies from the Area Recordings shop. Can't wait to finish work and stick it on the decks. This is a big release, the 4th vinyl release from the Area crew, who guarantee deep, quality goodness with every release. This one takes the form of a double pack, with tracks showcasing some up and comers and some more established faces, with DCult, Aeon, 3rdeye, Krytikal (who you can catch DJing at Movement on the 25th), Safire and Fused Forces. Check out the previews below, and bag this huge release when it comes out on the 21st November. Keep your eyes open for an interview and guest mix from Be-1ne around the time of the release too.
New mix in the "Heavyweight" series, aiming to bring serious pressure and incredibly deep sub. Check it out, this one contains tracks from Lysergene, Coleco, Compa, BadKlaat, Fused Forces, DJ Cable, Phrex, Sabre, Killa, Instinct, Biome, Specters, Grooki, Forensics, Thelem, Triggy, KroodandKrytikal! Sit back, turn up the sub and take it in!
Thought it had been quite a while since I put together a mix after Ollie Macfarlane's top notch guest mix so I got on making a mix that I thought highlighted more of the danceable night tracks. Check it out.
First we start off with Birmingham producer Krytikal and his track I Need. This is a sleek track, has a real Roots Of Dubstep feel to it (if you don't know that CD, it's definitely worth checking out), and as such I can't really pin this as garage or dubstep, but what I am sure of is that it's impressively well produced. This is followed by Majic's refix of Brandy - The Boy Is Mine, where he gives the original a funky shuffling twist. Next up we have the absolute stormer by Hackman, Close. I've already wrote about this track, and no matter how many times I hear it, I'm never quite ready for that drop. Following Close, we have a track from Night Tracks favourite Ollie Macfarlane, with his remix of Jacques Greene's Baby (I Don't Know What You Want) where he takes the thumping house of the original and twists it into a more garagey, snipped-up version that can definitely hold its own compared to the original. Next up was the unexpected release that was Burial, Four Tet & Thom Yorke - Ego. Every artists work is evident in this future classic. Following this is Wax with Untitled from No. 10001, with jarring chords gradually coming in over the techy groove. Next in the mix is Jacques Greene's impressive take on acid house, Sorted which moves straight into Satoshi Fumi & Steve Millwith their collaboration Night Purring (Dub Mix) with some lush pads underlining the thudding kicks. Ollie Macfarlane returns with another remix, this time of Burial's Stolen Dog adding his familiar house/trance influences to form it in his own vision. Finally, we have the classic long-runner Phylyps Trak II/IIby the minmal techno gods, Basic Channel.
