DJ Nate

Hatas Our Motivation

Planet Mu

After the explosion of recent juke influenced tracks by Addison Groove and Ramadanman, footworking don DJ Nate steps up to Planet Mu for the release of his debut EP in preparation for the release of a full length to follow. The six track Hatas Our Motivation EP works as a good introduction to the sound, drawing on the trademark tropes of juke and pulling them together into sparse percussive workouts. The focal point of all six tracks is the jittery drums, with rolling kicks stumbling over the snap of the 808 snares, working themselves into tricky little grooves. Vocals refrains are looped frantically over the top, dropping in and out of the rhythms. Veering from the dark, club ready Hatas Our Motivation and Make Em Run to the softer RnB infused Ima Burn Him, the EP builds ultra repetitive motifs that drill themselves into your subconscious. While the songs are difficult to pull apart and make sense at first, the more you listen to them the more they nestle themselves into your head and body.

 

 

 

Redinho

Bare Blips EP

Numbers

The Glaswegian Numbers imprint continue their impressive run with another debut EP, this time from Redinho. Over eight tracks, he pulls together a really varied but consistently exciting selection of futuristic bass mutations. Drawing upon the thundering rhythms of dancehall and grime, the off-kilter grooves of hip hop, the glitchy drum edits of electronica and the saccharine melodies of RnB he creates a consistently mutating and very individual sound. The succinct tracks hit you immediately unfurling at breakneck speed and leaving you wanting more. Standout tracks come in the form of the crackling grime-cum-dancehall of Mo Brap and the skittering RnB bounce of the eponymous Bare Blips.

 

Redinho - Bare Blips EP Sampler by Numbers

 

 

Terror Danjah

Bruzin VIP/Hysteria Ft. DOK

Hyperdub

The Terror Danjah renaissance continues to pick up pace as he drops another two synthetic grime beasts on Hyperdub, with a forthcoming album for the label due in the next couple of months. Bruzin VIP takes all the classic elements you have come to associate with Terror Danjah productions and ramps up the energy levels to fever pitch. The intro jolts into motion with the drums rolling into gear and the melodies locking themselves together. As the track explodes, the drums judder and rattle with the rhythmic freedom of jungle and the synths whip around each other frenetically. As shards of strings are spat out, the bass lurches the track forward. Hysteria with DOK takes classic grime instrumental arrangements and turns them on there head. Switching things up between a hands-in-the-air house section and a menacingly off-kilter, stuttering breakdown, it is the kind of track that will stop you in your tracks. Top-notch stuff from a producer at the top of his game.

 

 

 

Various

Re:Wired Vol.1 EP

Studio Rockers

Here the Studio Rockers label offers up a taster of some of the exciting things to come from the label with a tasty four-track sampler of individual talents. Pempi's Fire ft. Jahbliss opens up the EP with a statement of intent going straight for the jugular with an energetic skanker. Reformulating the classic dub influences, the skittering percussion, 4x4 kick and squelching bassline drive the track home with force. Dodge Vyrus's Wa Gwaaan is a mechanical monster, with a writhing, maniacal bassline that twists and contorts through the track only pinned down by the tightly coiled snares. The modestly named Albert takes things in a completely different direction with a beautifully evocative rolling 2-step number while Nuphlo packs a punch with the Eastern influenced Karma Than Calm.

 

ReWired EP by Studio Rockers

 

 

Shortstuff

The Summer Of Shortstuff EP

Ramp

Shortstuff returns to Ramp Recordings for a series of three beautifully packaged 10"s showcasing a newly honed, stripped-down and robust sound. Maintaining the frenetic rhythms and queasy synths of his impressive earlier releases, Shortstuff has pulled away any excess weight leaving a newly fortified sound. The intricate percussion takes elements of 2-step and funky and pulls them through the rhythmic vortex of grime. Snares snap at breakneck speed, orbiting around the pulse of the kicks as the bass punches holes through the rhythms leaving you breathless. Synths cut through the mix and fly off in every direction playing off the percussion, drawing every element together into one propulsive force. All three are most definitely worth your time and money, but part one is perhaps the most interesting, with See Ya a mutated anthem from the halcyon days of grime and Herb Face a rattling alien funky beast.

 

Shortstuff - See Ya (RAMP036-1) - Ramp Recordings by stholdings

 

Related Links:

• August 2010 Dubstep Reviews
• Terror Danjah Documentary
• Terror Danjah - Undeniable LP Preview
• Looking Back Looking Forward: RAMP
• Terror Danjah Unveils New Label

Like it? Share it!
Sign up for more with the Kmag weekly newsletter.