Dubstep 279 Items

2022 may bring much much uncertainty to the world but one thing we know for a fact is that we are introducing our most innovative and intriguing new act in years – the French duo Archil & Leon with their five track debut (appropriately called) “Blooming”.

Having both released in the past independently, Archil & Leon were originally brought together thanks to their teenage band His Majesty and from there, their passion to create music together never has faltered. Leon is a veteran session and live drummer who also produces music for his own dance project Ongaeshi and the dance collective moovance. Archil is an accomplished solo electronic musician and the force behind Archil Lab handmade musical devices. Using elements like springs (Springophone) and wheels (Roulettophone), his instruments are lovingly manufactured in wood and somehow carry the characteristics of modular gear but in the most unconventional way possible.

At a first listen, Archil & Leon’s music comes off as a well oiled live jam but as you dig deeper, it’s clear these tracks have a precision and style that separates them into a category of their own. Their EP “Blooming” is the result of two full years of being locked in their studio, writing and experimenting together. Indeed, an underlying flow of 70’s funk permeates throughout their music, however pigeonholing them into such a stereotype would be a travesty as they have impeccable song writing skills and their self made instruments conjure an experimentalism which is through and through rooted in electronic music. We can only hope that fans of now-classic Jamie Lidell / Super_Collider will appreciate where they are coming from, and you agree their “sound” is brilliantly individual. After all, they created their tracks literally from the ground up.

Watch more about Archil & Leon and their wonderfully outlandish instruments.

The first Subaltern release of 2022 sees three outstanding producers coming together to deliver a bass-blessing for all connoisseurs of the finer frequencies.

The penultimate release in the Eight Trigram series. This edition coming from Brazilian producer Spiritual Rockers, and played up until now as an exclusive and much sought-after dubplate. Super limited edition press housed in the reverse-board Trigram house bag. Raw, unadulterated tribal bass music with a deep roots foundation. This is the sound of Trigram.

That new type of british rap … feat. Joe Goddard & Roots Manuva!

Label cover.

After the start of his Dubs Galore family with 3 massive releases from Hebbe (003), Khanum (004) and Muttley & Quasar (005), label boss Von D returns to his own imprint to introduce 2 very special remixes of 2 already mind-boggling originals.

Established in 2015 with a vision to push the envelope on bass-driven music at 140bpm, Belgian label Duploc have been doing just that ever since. Now, after a refreshing rebrand and enticing new label plans in store, they welcome Distance into the fold with his darkly raw and starkly haunting Sacrifices EP.

Back on DNO for the first time since 2020, City1 delivers four more darkling cuts for shaking soundsystems to their core.

On opener ‘Ohmu’, the combination of wind and string instruments brings a folklorish quality to proceedings. Set alongside the heavyweight surge of an 808, it’s as if City1 were soundtracking something ancient, colossal and bewitching — which isn’t far off, considering the tune takes its name from monstrous bugs in the anime, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.

‘Jalidi’ is even more cinematic, with mournful strings that make way for a sparse marching rhythm backed with repetitive chanting and propelled by a relentless, lumbering drone bass. While on ‘Sifuri’, City1 sets his sights firmly on the dancefloor. Here, the deep hum of oscillating subs, plenty of dub echo and eerie squeaking stabs that hop about the stereo field provide a surefire way to keep bodies moving.

The EP’s final foray, ‘Butterfly’, presents contrasting ideas linked by a stalwart beat. It begins in spine-tingling fashion, with a discordant lullaby and crusty old vocal sample leading to a menacing dubstep stomp. But the real surprise comes with the introduction of a fluttering guitar riff that juxtaposes the rapid-fire kicks and brooding sonics found elsewhere. Switching back and forth throughout the duration, the parts reflect the unsettling alien oddity of the chrysalis and the fragile, temporary beauty of the creature that emerges from within.

A fine return from the Tokyo-based producer and another superb curation from the DJ Mag award-nominated Brighton label. City1’s ‘Butterfly’ EP arrives on 12” vinyl and digital on 27th of May 2022.

Leeds based UKG Peaky Beats follows up a killer release on Breaks N Pieces and self-released collaborative EP with Highrise with four cuts of ragga-tipped Dub that show a different sonic side to the typically lairy producer. It also comes complete with a remix from aya, the artist behind one of last year's most impressive tapes - I’m Hole.

LOTR-inspired ‘Helms Deep’ is a melodic battlecry; what would have been played when the Rohan army defeated Sauron’s forces had 140bpm dubstep existed within Tolkien’s fantasy world - haunting, meditative and deadly. ‘Shire Steppin’ makes clever use of stripped-back production with oddball samples and reggae-inspo that inspires mental images of hobbits smoking around a fire. What was in Gandalf’s pipe anyway?

‘Turn Up’ maintains the cemented minimal aesthetic, this time with a more tribal approach than ragga; swirling atmospherics soar overhead before screw-face dubs and heavy bass-weight invites the contemplative darkness across the threshold. Heady electronic and tribal traditions continue on ‘Greywind’ with more ragga-tipped goodness best played at 4am through the early morning haze.

Aya’s remix is typically brilliant - remaining at 140bpm, a standout producer of 2021 delivers a devastating, roughly chopped cut of malfunctioning dubstep - a percussive and experimental masterclass through light and dark.

As an undisputed heavyweight and one of the leading figures within the electronic music scene, Icicle's recognized as a highly respected producer - among other ventures through steaming releases via Hospital Records, Critical Music and Shogun Audio. Propelling his technically advanced production style into the 140 BPM spectrum, it's a sight to behold as DJ Youngsta reveals the next ace up his sleeve. The UK-based veteran conveys his awe-inspiring take on Dubstep with four tracks on a twelve-inch platter - vehemently battle-tested as a dubplate and ready to off at a dance floor near you.

Rua Sound is pleased to announce we are back in action with our first release of 2019, and a welcome return to the label of Touchy Subject.
Fast becoming one of the go-to producers for rootsier takes on up-tempo 160-170 bass music, his second four-track 12" on Rua ups the ambition and knocks it so far out of the park it's broken windows in the next parish across.
The General EP veers wildly between neurofunk-but-actually-funky takes on dusty 90's boom-bapàla DJ Shadow on "Shudder" and 'Turnt Up', cavernous soundsystem workouts on "Seek and Find", and febrile halftime (just) jungle (barely) masterpiece in the shape of "General". Goosebumps. This is soundsystem music par excellence; cerebral, heady, and rousing - suffice to say we reckon it's sicker than the plane to Lourdes.
We apologise profusely to those of you whose resolutions for 2019 involved losing weight, but this is one of our fattest releases yet so you'd better go get them bassbins rumbling instead.

ltd edition of 150 hand numbered copies.

Rips joins the ranks on Foamplate's imprint Plantpower.

Sabasonik's Ninetree EP is their debut release on Earth & Stone.

Cover with slight wear and a bent corner!

Small light scuff on side B-

To many AxH represents one of the few out there who has held underground strong through the many peaks and valleys of Dubstep, and as such pushed the sound forward all the while. Through Releases on Artikal, Boka, Tempa, and many more AxH has year over year maintained his position as the stateside stalwart. LoDubs is pleased to bring forth three new tunes emblematic of the AxH DNA: Fearsome, at times Frenetic, yet always forward thinking.

Navy Cut welcome Surreal to the label for his inaugural release! Hailing from Yorkshire, the no-nonsense producer and DJ caught our attention with his production skill and attention to detail. “Somnipath” driven by a dark 808 bass that progresses into an Eastern melodic atmosphere. On the flip side “Don’t Fall Asleep” is intense bass pressure with thick drums and even thicker vibes.

New recruit Mister Shifter drops his debut EP for J:Kenzo's Artikal Music UK.

A long time coming, we’re excited to welcome Portuguese beat-maker 3WA to the Subaltern family with a selection of some of his best work to date.

Introducing ‘switch’ from Reflec, the first release on his brand-new imprint Soaker Sound; a label intent on exploring left-leaning club sounds as we make our imminent return to the club. A powerful statement of serious things to come; Switch is an ice-cold, eski 6 tracker that puts a fresh spin on the golden days of UK grime. Released on 03.05.2021 on vinyl and digital, Switch drops in time to soundtrack the summer and can be pre-ordered here.

Manta, this release made itself. Crow sample, swampier than the everglades and swing! Manta is a man crafting some of the most off kilter sounds we have heard and these tracks go a touch of the way to show the mans class! Control of the uncontrolled.

The Nebula EP sees the first collaboration between upcoming Glaswegian producers RUDA and Rapture 4D for a gleaming-but-gritty 4 piece instrumental EP.

Precision dubsteppin’ drum & bass collides with tweaked IDM-techno and zero-gravity ambient.

"Samples, movies and beats. That's the essence of Dead End's brand new LP titled Kino Vol.1. The Portuguese producer takes the chair and delivers a masterful performance that combines music and cinema. Kino Vol.1 is a multidisciplinary album built around samples picked from some of his most loved blockbusters and inspired by iconic movie clips. For the occasion, Saturate's Instagram profile has turned into a video gallery, featuring footage from cult movies and series such as The Office, Sicario, A Fistful Of Dollars, perfectly synched with Dead End's productions. The album experience itself resembles that of a mini-series like Netflix's Love Death Robot or Oat Studios, where every episode is a story on its own, written and shot in a different way. The fourteen tracks, or episodes as I like to call them, range from heavy club to hip hop and halftime. Some are more colorful and atmospheric like the ending tripled composed by 'Cocoon,' 'Voyage' (feat Dj Ride) and 'Flowers Bloom'. These cuts seem to come off reflective and introspective movies. Others are way heavier, as they were made straight for fighting and chase scenes. In this group, you can count 'Melee Attack,' 'Though Break,' 'Stealth', 'Thin Ice'. My favorite instead are those which set up an ambiguous and sinister mood. 'Bullit Drift,' 'The Fog,' 'Shindeiru,' 'The Road,' all these episodes could fit very well in both mental thrillers (a la Nolan) and unconventional psycho/horror movies. They build a palpable tension that successfully keeps me on my toes as I expect a jump scare or a sudden plot twist to come in at every second given. In conclusion, Dead Ends' Kino Vol.1 has the virtue of creating a listening experience that, thanks to its references to the world of cinema, becomes interactive and involves the listener in first person. It's impossible not to try to figure out from which films the samples are taken or to try to imagine which scene would be perfect for a specific track."