(PHZLV0025) Forensics Presents - Low Voltage Volume 25

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.

(PHZ0LV22) Lysergene - Low Voltage 22

Some of you may remember Lysergene from when Night Tracks was just a fledgling music blog, and we got in touch with him for our just our second interview ever. Well, aside from a few free tunes, the Birmingham-based producer has been quiet since then, so it was with joy I received the new release by Phantom Hertz Recordings, "Low Volume 22", produced by Lysergene.

If you've heard his releases on Area Recordings, then you'll have some idea of what to expect. Dark, dynamic music, with plenty of pressure. Opener 'Agra' brings an atmospheric and tense start to the EP, a moment of eerie calm before the weight of the drop, where Lysergene eschews the static, standard "dungeon" bass for bass that shifts and warps, never standing still for a moment, which sets the tone for the rest of the EP, before you reach the closing track "Hammer Fall" which transcends dubstep and becomes the deepest, most immersive soundscape you'll have heard for a while.

Pre-order the release on Digital Tunes now.

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Soundcloud Round Up

Phew! Almost forgot to do this week's Soundcloud Round-Up. Anyway, you can finally feel relieved and listen to the best it has to offer over the last week.

Night Tracks 014: Heavyweight 003

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, Krood and Krytikal! Sit back, turn up the sub and take it in!

Lysergene - Dasht-e Kavir (Dub)
Coleco - Thinner (Skybrid Audio)
Badklaat - Poultry Geist (Dub)
Fused Forces & DJ Cable - Yoshimitsu (Triangulum Recordings)
Phrex - Sunk (Dub)
Sabre - One Hundred Teeth (Killa & Instinct Remix) (Dub)
Biome - Pum Pum (Dub)
Specters - War Never Changes (Dub)
Forensics - Midnight Sky (Grooki Remix) (Eight:FX)
Thelem - Machine City (Dub)
Compa - Dreams (Inna Riddim)
Skream - Filth (Triggy Remix) (Dub)
Biome - The Planets (Sub Pressure)
Specters - Died Long Ago (Dub)
Krood - Jasmine Trip (Sub Lab)
Krytikal - Encounters (Dub)

Soundcloud Round Up

Firstly, big up the Soundcloud crew who keep sending me tracks. Finally you're gonna get some recognition. I'm assuming you've seen the interviews I've done so far, and maybe at some point in the future I'll be interviewing some of these. Anyway, this will just be a weekly round-up of sweet tracks I've found/been sent on Soundcloud. You never know, you might find some new people to follow.

Muroidea - Terra Serenus

Sparse, atmospheric vibes on this track Muroidea from Guildford. It's worth checking out his other works too (click the track title above for a link), he's always got interesting drum work, sort of stuff I've never really heard before.

Aphex Twin - Tha (Stavrogin Remix)

Great remix of a great Aphex Twin track, 'Tha' from Selected Ambient Works 85-92. Really like the underlying organ throughout this track, great transformation. It's worth checking out his radical take on Anti-War Dub too.

SBTRKT - Hide Or Seek (Powder Hill Remix)

Another remix that a producer called Powder Hill from Reading. Great take on the original, adding a real dark house vibe that works really well. Big track.

Lysergene - Bring It

Free download from a Night Tracks favourite, Lysergene, who proves that tear-out doesn't have to be over the top brostep. Weighty tracks, so thanks for the give away!

Youandewan - Alone In Berlin (Tomas Rubeck Remix)

Nice remix of an already great track by Youandewan. Tomas Rubeck gives the house original a dub techno spin. Another free download!

Essáy - A Cold Day

Summer is over (In the Northern Hemisphere at least), so get used to it, and check the ambient vibes of German producer, Essáy. Keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming interview and mix with the man himself.

Fedbymachines - Would I

Great free track from Fedbymachines. So many different takes on the garage sound nowadays, but Fedbymachines from the Netherlands, I always keep my eye on. Check it out.

Interview With Lysergene

Lysergene is the latest producer to take the time to answer some questions for Night Tracks. Outside of his more commonly known work for Area Recordings, he’s also played in the band Esoteric and made more ambient metal tracks as Lysergene (check out ‘Nebula’ from the split album with Dust To Dearth for one of the most beautiful metal pieces ever).

NT: Hey man, can you give us a quick introduction to yourself?

L: Hey, I’m Gordon Bicknell, a Birmingham based producer. I’ve been into programming, production and sound design for around 17 years now and I’ve produced music in many styles of music for various reasons. I’ve stuck with Dubstep for a couple of years now due to the multiplicity and potential for experimentation the genre offers. I’ve been teaching programming for five years at an FE college in the city centre.

NT: Did your previous ambient/doom metal work with Esoteric and as Lysergene have much of an effect on your dubstep productions?

L: I guess so. Any prior experience must have some constructive influence. The Dark wave stuff I’ve released through Aesthetic Death Records allows me to explore alternative programming techniques and sound design through experimentation. Producing trance, house, DnB etc. never really gave me the urge to apply a violin bow to my guitar for example. The music doesn’t even necessarily follow a tempo or time signature and pretty much anything goes. This is great, almost the perfect outlet, but it’s very open and it’s sometimes difficult to get started on a piece when there are literally no rules. I enjoy working to the constraints and rules, if you will, of a particular style, as this offers a given framework to build from and work by. As far as I’m concerned, Dubstep offers the best of both worlds.

Lysergene - Nebula