Dubstep 162 Items

We are super stoked to welcome back 3WA aka The Portuguese Serial Killer aka The Christiano Ronaldo of Dubstep for another fire release on Foundation Audio (this time around getting the vinyl treatment)! Pedro has got many tricks up his sleeves. Here are 4 of his finest. Make no mistake he will nutmeg you, dribble around you, Ronaldo chop past you and handball the finest goal without the ref seeing (and he’ll make it look easyyyy)… What’s more to say? The guys a wizard and makes some of the most interesting music in the Dubstep scene. Get to know if you don’t already.

3WA joins the LDH family for the second instalment in the Ldhxl series. The long awaited collaboration with Breez, 'Acido Maligno', is accompanied by three solo tracks from 3WA.

700 Bliss is the forward-thinking duo of DJ Haram and Moor Mother. Their first full length for Hyperdub is an album of noise rap that ties together the raw edges of club music and hip hop with punk energy, jazz, house-party catharsis, percussion-heavy analogue sound design, and cheeky skits, ranging from experimental rap tracks with rolling hi hats and lyrical bravado, to poetry set to noise and sound collage. Moor Mother and DJ Haram started collaborating in 2014 and eventually formed 700 Bliss, a blistering live act in Philly's DIY scene, releasing their 2018 debut, Spa 700 on Halcyon Veil / Don Giovanni Records. Since that time, both artists have grown global followings. Moor Mother is a prolific solo artist and collaborator, writer, and member of Black Quantum Futurism while Haram has been curating and creating radio shows, DJing, and producing (including an EP for Hyperdub in 2019). ‘Nothing To Declare’ is a smart, danceable revelation, a chiseled soundscape of dive bombing bass, piercing bleeps, crunchy distortion, and wavering synth lines. Welcoming in a variety of voices from their extended, cross-genre scene, 700 Bliss also bring along a cast of collaborators, including vocalists Orion Sun, Lawfandah, Ase Manual, and Ali Logout (from the band Special Interest), plus Palestinian producer Muqata'a, and writer M Téllez who delivers a surreal sci fi monologue over a pounding kick drum on ‘More Victories’. ‘Nothing To Declare’ is a deeply layered rewriting of hip hop and electronic music that gives more with each listen. You won't hear another rap album like it in 2022.

"M4 is a tune that I wrote back in 2017 when I was living in Bristol. At the time I was really into writing melodic pieces and messing around with as many synths as possible. I decided to add some heavy bass to this one cinematic organ progression and laid down some basic drums over the top and called it a day really. I think I sent it out to a couple people (one being Mala) and forgot about it.

Another few years went by and the tune has changed a bit to stay in line with my current production style arriving at the version that's set to be released. Abacus was just an all out bass experiment that I never thought would see the light of day and Dusty really shows off the more melodic style of my productions. After hearing these tunes played on big systems for so long I'm really happy that everyone can now finally get their hands on a copy."

Alxzndr 2022

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.

Rousing Robocop Knock-Outs

Bukez Finezt VIP's his already incredible Headache into a bonafied skanker that's just begging for a reload everywhere it'll drop. He gives the Headache rhythm such a treatment. Adding layers and layers of dubwise sounds only to switch back into that originial flow we all know and love. One of Bukez Finezt's most anticipated tracks of the moment. Next Level is literally the next level after Subway Recordings quit doing releases.

`Antidawn' reduces Burial's music to just the vapours. The record explores an interzone between dislocated, patchwork songwriting and eerie, open-world game-space ambience. In the resulting no man's land, lyrics take precedence over song, lonely phrases colour the haze, a stark and fragmented structure makes time slow down. `Antidawn' seems to tell a story of a wintertime city, and something beckoning you to follow it into the night. The result is both comforting and disturbing, producing a quiet and uncanny glow against the cold. Sometimes, as it enters 'a bad place', it takes your breath away. And time just stops.

Originally produced exclusively for the Japanese domestic market. All six tracks in their full length versions, totalling 50 minutes of music not previously available on CD, packaged in full size jewel case with Japanese obi-strip overlay.

After a 2 year hiatus, Madam X's Kaizen imprint comes back full force, with an upgraded aesthetic and brand new wave of leftfield, off-kilter club music. Kzn009 sees one of Manchester's most exciting up & coming producers, Cartridge, mark his debut with a fierce 2 tracker, loaded with soundsystem pressure and gully 130 artillery in the Banada EP. Melodic Grime, moody Dubstep, and sub-heavy textures sprinkle this wobby release, designed for dark rooms, splintered basements and heavy soundsystems. With an impressive back catalogue on Deep Dark & Dangerous, Albion Collective & one half of Regents alongside Manchester kingpin Strategy (Broke'n'£nglish), Cartridge is no stranger to the UK's burgeoning bass music scene.

On the A side, we have Banada, a melodic eastern-flavoured instrumental, with elements of Grime and Dubstep carrying the tune to its arpeggiated crescendo.

A singing voice and raspy melody build the tension before a heavily distorted switch up catches you off guard, leading you further down a Dubstep rabbit hole, and into a world of shady and sinister drops, sitting perfectly alongside the label's strictly hoods-up, heads-down tip.

Teaming up with Kaizen heavyweight and local scene hero Biome on the B-Side, Ricky Rosé has proved a firm favourite for those peak-time, no-holds-barred, bass-in-your-face, power hour moments. Relentless in its metallic bassline and thumping 808 drums, this explosive club tool comes with a solid side-serving of gunfingers and screwfaces.

Universal Vibrations is my most personal project to date. I came back from a month long trip to Brazil feeling very inspired during the start of lockdown and decided to experiment with some slower BPMs for the first time after producing dubstep for the last 15 years. This album is the result.

One tune came flying out after the other during a crazily productive 2 month period. I was so happy with the beats I thought I'd get some of my favourite MCs on board so spent the next 8 months organizing and mixing down the vocal features.

It all happened very naturally and very quickly, it was just waiting to pop out! To say I'm proud of this album is an understatement. 2 years in the making, I can't wait for you all to hear it!

Love Chad <3

Cover with slight wear and a bent corner!

After months of track iD pleas, Dubstep royalty Cimm (system / Sentry / Tempa) makes his Kaizen debut with this dark and dangerous 130 release.

Street Kings is certified festival artillery. Tried & Tested for those Gully, Gun-finger "lick off your headtop" moments.

The B-Side comes through with some restorative energy. Mellow grooves, floating pads, and bouncy UKG rhythms in Day 1 & It's Alright.

Early support from Loefah, Breaka, Jay Carder & Walton.

Back with a vengeance, Cimm returns to the imprint with a highly anticipated succession to his Sentry debut from last year, stamped on a irresistible 2 x 12" vinyl release. Infernal halftime beats and top-notch Dubstep shells, firmly entrenched at the frontier of sound system music and its invaluable heritage. The London-based producer and DJ rose to swift and significant acclaim in the last few years with releases on institutions like Tempa, J:Kenzo's Artikal and Wheel & Deal as well as notable residencies at Rinse FM and the renowned Fabric night club, among other recent achievements. Now coming to a turntable near you, Cimm delivers four bespoke cuts, primed for the dance and your enjoyment, battle-tested by the scene's foremost tastemakers.

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.

Okinawan talent City1 has been making some serious moves with his unique dark productions as of late and we are honoured to welcome him to the Subaltern family.

Clearlight brings his wonderfully tripped out production wizardry to Foundation Audio for a 3 track journey into the void! Clearlight has always stood out from the crowd and pushed boundaries with his unique take on the genre. It sounds like dubstep swallowed a bottle of LSD… or smoked some DMT… There’s no point going into detailed track summary as it won’t do the music justice, - just sit back, spark one up and get sucked into another dimension.

The new track 'Deep In Thought' which has only appeared on mixes prior to now, will only be released in this format.

Coltcuts debut EP on Wheel & Deal Records.

A statement that is well suitable for the next release on Hamburg’s most underground vinyl imprint Intrauterin Recordings which already has been on the scene since 1999. Led by a vocal sample of the labels mastermind baze.djunkiii this limited to 120 copies 7″ whitelabel single does not only provide a unique and creative take on bass music - especially Grime, Dubstep and Breaks as well as some echoes of early Jungle / Breakbeats - but also proves how long term relationships in the music industry finally fall into place to create musical results as the Combat Dubs project is formed in between Intrauterin Recordings-founder baze.djunkiii and the multi-active producer Sascha Müller who’s also been responsible for the labels’ cat.no. 005 way back in 2005.

Achtung !! Another weighty missive from the desk of Herr Campbell, otherwise known as Consulate - Perth’s preeminent breakbeat bureaucrat, currently stationed in Melbourne, Australia. Smelling like leather and tasting like metal, the “Assassino” EP features four full-excursion incantations for all the midwinter ravers -- solstice steppers enhanced with dubwise technique and enchanted with ancient foreboding. Careful what you conjure when the needle hits this platter.

Established in 2020 by Duploc & 140 Plates owner Pieter Grauwels and producer Hebbe, Basskruit is a label set up with the sole focus of shining a light on Belgian & Dutch produced, explosive Dubstep & 140 music.

With previous incredible releases coming from the likes of 11th Hour, BunZer0 and Hebbe himself, the imprint is now set for their eagerly anticipated 17th outing.

It comes from Netherlands-based Crowley & Schim, two producers expertly carving their reputation into the underground ‘140’ scene with their stunning, bass-driven productions which have been released on labels such as Duploc, Fkof & Concrete Law.

Meticulously crafted and exploding with bassweight, Bsskrt017 is a four-track EP which boldly traverses the sonic plains of ‘140’, showcasing the variety in both artist’s sound, whether it be the stripped back & swinging Moraal, the reverberating & dubbed-out Skitta or the dark & breaks-laced Wervel, which provides inspiration for a deep & hypnotic remix from Belgian artist Zygos.

Release artwork provided by Joshua Hughes-Games.

"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."

Side A comes courtesy of Bristol resident Phaeleh. Opening as a straightforward digital steppas, the master of cinematic atmosphere flawlessly integrates Dubkasm’s live instrumentation and his own electronics to reimagine ‘Missao’ as a richly detailed futuristic odyssey while staying true to the tune’s roots style. Crisp handclaps replace the snares of the original, and cellos soar, as the piece layers and evolves with timbale fills and syndrum-like risers, before a monumental sub-bass kicks in.

On the back of their debut release, Subtle Recordings is at it once again bringing some heavy weight from the shores of New Zealand with bad man Ebb taking the reins. As always, exquisitely imprinted ‘no holds barred’ by the masterful Optimal Media in a full art sleeve, 180 grams, vinyl only, no-repress recording. Standing strong as another pillar of foundation to the future sound of bass music.

We are extremely happy to welcome another talented artist in the Moonshine Recordings family. EchoBoy previously known as Riddim Tuffa is a Czech based producer that is about to mashup the todays reggae dubstep scene in the upcoming months. His first moonshine release will drop on May the 6th on beautiful marbled hazy red vinyl.

close to NM

It's been a few years since Gemmy returned with a release, but he's back in business with a brand new 12 on Infernal Sounds. Entering the imprint on the milestone 30th release, this is a record of pure character and old-school licks that you'd be more than accustomed to if you've listened to the purple-laced producer in previous years. 'Irreversible Culture' kicks things off with a rough and tough low end kick and step, layering that ultimate groove and steppers delight.

Straight out of one of the UK’s most innovative bass music hotspots, Bristol, two of the scenes fastest rising stars Glume and Phossa join the Subaltern roster with their massive debut split EP.

Available digitally and on limited chrome cassettes (with digital download code), we are releasing a series of albums and EP’s from talented and promising artists. Expect all facets of instrumental hip-hop, future beats and electronic beat music….

Good Paul has been searching for that right sound ever since his career started. Never confining to only one genre or branch of music, he has been looking in various genres, but especially in the gray area between hip-hop and house, drum and bass and dub-step, always being attracted by soulful emotion with bass and broken beats. In these last 14 years he was unable to find that one special sound. This EP, however, is his solution for this neverending search.

In his own words:
“To live well we need to learn and know about a lot of different things. Draw your plans in an attempt to consciously create the future. It turns out that often the decisive moments in our life are found. I have never sought music by artists or genres, but instead, I am just trying to find music that gets to me in terms of emotion.
I hope there will be people who find the music from this EP, because that music found me.”
The artwork was created by Mateusz Kolek, who is known for his playful, psychedelic and dreamlike illustrations, heavily influenced by Soviet science fiction flicks and Japanese anime’s.

Bio:
Good Paul from Krakow, Poland, has spent already 14 years behind the decks and is well known for his musical selection and technical skill. Being a Red Bull Music Academy alumni (Toronto, 2007) and lecturer (Warsaw, 2012), he self-released a free EP entitled „One More Time“ and has been remixing various projects in the advanced futuristic music scene in Poland, in particular for U Know Me Records from Warsaw.

Trusik travels eastward again to meet Back to Chill mainstay HELKTRAM whose technoid dubstep constructions have been operating under the radar with just two releases from Banana Stand Sound and Encrypted Audio back in 2016. That is until now.

Hypho joins the Wheel & Deal camp with his debut Hypho joins the Wheel & Deal camp with his debut Muharib EP available on limited vinyl and digital.

‘Muharib Skank’ is a haunting street anthem. It's laid back flow but aggy vibe is laced with street samples and vocals. The combination of minimal Half Step beats, stabbing synths, rib shaking bass and street slogan ‘Don’t piss me off!’ is infectious. The word Muharib means ‘Warrior’ in Arabic, setting the scene perfectly for the rest of this solid EP.

‘affektion’ is the track that first drew N-Type’s attention. LLush, laid back melodies, trickling drill beats and distant oriental style synths makes this perfect listening at home, on a long journey or at a club to break up a set.

‘moody Marge’ is another haunted dub roll out, continuing the laid back smoked out theme of the EP. Hypho shows off his talent for executing deep, spacious, minimal Dubstep with catching melodies and bass.

‘ms20 Skank’ is a rave dub skanker! Heavyweight bass drop, Dub samples, echo’s and delays, make this impossible not to move to! This one is a great track to start your set with to get the crowd skanking out! This is half step dubstep at it’s finest and concludes Hypho’S debut EP on Wheel & Deal Records.

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.

None less than the infamous ILL_K is making his much anticipated return to Subaltern with a full EP on the imprint, accompanied by fellow producers Chad Dubz and Koobas.

Jeremy Blake (Red Means Recording) and MTN (FULLSET Music) present their love letter to Teenage Engineering's OP-1 Synth. Featuring 8 tracks and 35 minutes of playing time full of freehand arranged synth waveforms and samples. This release is strictly limited to 230 pieces!

"Top drawer business from Mr McCann, bringing a profound understanding of what high-pressure dub-rooted music should be about, both banging and deep depending on which side you pick :)" This quote taken from the original release in 2012 feels as relevant today as it did then! Proving to be a timeless classic, Dread still gets the pull-up in the dance!

Wonky noir specialist, Kercha, is back with five spun-out cuts, merging dubstep, jazz, garage, techno and a whole lot of weird. ‘Disarray’ is as discombobulating as its title suggests, a slinky beat hidden among umpteen odds and ends from Kercha’s cabinet of curiosities. A subby wiggle here, a far-off siren there, the warm tinkling of a Fender Rhodes, and was that someone falling down the stairs? Our only constant allies are a vaguely disturbing vocal and a bass clarinet that’s definitely up to no good. ‘Witness’ employs a similar palette but switches tactics, stripping back to the basics as faint whispers and the ever-growing presence of a whirring alarm suggest something dangerous might be lurking around the corner. ‘Conjugate’ is more direct, the percussion elevated from its usual backseat as thudding kicks and taught snares make their presence felt among the digi-dub wobbles — a theme repeated on digital bonus track ‘New World’, though there, jagged mid-bass lines provide an extra dollop of screwface-inciting muck. And bringing this leg of DNO’s journey to a close is ‘Long Way’, which rumbles along like a lonely night train, its chugging bassline matched with eerie engine whistles, the rhythmic clink of a cowbell and, somewhere deep in the mix, the familiar clickety-clack of tracks. Weaving together disparate worlds like some interdimensional architect, Kercha simultaneously places us among the inebriated haze and freewheeling expression of a basement jazz club, and the 10-tonne rhythms that have fuelled DNO’s parent party The Mine for the past decade, and will continue to do so into the future. Rhythms of postmodern realism at the very bottom of the DNO.

Khanum joins the small but already acquainted Dubs Galore family with 2 soundsystem hitters.

2nd pressing on black vinyl! A child agrees then screams the name. Kid-o-suke. Did you hear that right? The music trickles in. It sounds like it was made in a toy factory. Hold on. Let me reach for the button over there. Childhood memories. The magical sounds of a roundabout sending you to sleep. The wonders of the world seen through eyes that don’t yet ully comprehend and ears that find musical potential in everything. Two kindred souls find each other, distance never the issue, they share and laugh the only way they know how.

A child agrees then screams the name. Kid-o-suke. Did you hear that right? The music trickles in. It sounds like it was made in a toy factory. Hold on. Let me reach for the button over there. Childhood memories. The magical sounds of a roundabout sending you to sleep. The wonders of the world seen through eyes that don’t yet fully comprehend and ears that find musical potential in everything. Two kindred souls find each other, distance never the issue, they share and laugh the only way they know how.

The wonderful pixelated world of a video game. Where does reality end and where does the imagination start? Somewhere in the distance an explosion can be heard, or was it a booming bass drum? There are birds singing a crystalline melody. One I heard before, in a dream perhaps. All of a sudden a child exclaims ‘come, let’s go’. Where did he come from? Is he real or another pixelated fragment of imagination?

Yokatta desu. There’s a castle in the sky. Two boys team up to reach it, carried by the power of their dreams. The same dreams that marked their childhood and brought them to be men. If ever there was music worthy of becoming the soundtrack to a Ghibli movie this could be it. There’s a girl asleep on a plastic deer, going around and around. She reminds me of the hand drawn versions of the pixelated heroes of my childhood. I imagine her dreams filled with exciting adventures.

I swear I heard the sounds of Tokyo’s public transport. It told me we’d arrived at Shibuya yet I can’t see the neon bright lights when I look around. Oh well, I’ll just have to imagine them.

It’s an album, so of course it’s real. The music is the result of a desire to create regardless of outcome, for the simple fact that there is a story to tell. People will consume it whichever way they want. Is it this sound or that sound? Does it really matter? Stop for a minute and enjoy the music for what it is. A synthesis of two aesthetics joined not just by a love of music but also a love of the abstract and the childish, the things that remind us we were all young one day and things were simpler. Things like dancing as if no one was looking or making music as if the outcome never mattered.

Kidsuke is a collaborative project between the UK’s Kidkanevil and Japan’s Daisuke Tanabe. Their self-titled debut is released by Project Mooncircle in November 2012 on double colored vinyl LP and digital.

Having previously graced the label with Ifsdigi002 and as part of the Ifsdigiv001 record which landed earlier this year, Kodama marks his return to Infernal Sounds with a 4 track solo EP on their main catalogue. As to be expected from the producer he showcases his musical and melodic prowess throughout, touching on darker tones whilst displaying the lighter, nibble notes we've all come to expect to hear from him.

'Gekko' opens up the EP, beautifully constructing a kaleidoscope of emotion and spanning textures, whilst 'Fijit' hits a little differently, layering daunting droplets of reverb, revealing a sinister underbelly to the overall vibe.

The B-side opener, 'Sneakers' leads with drawing melodies, before breaking into a bass-infused medley. 'Wiretap' finishes the EP with accurate precision, again providing an example of Kodama's use of melodic structures, whilst drawing you down a spectrum of sound and feeling.

It's one of those EP's which isn't particularly packed with out-right bangers for the dancefloor, but more of a display of the newer 140 sound, and a selection of tunes which cohesively gel into a neat little package. For the DJ's who love to build, these are dying to be part of your collection and are perfect to get the crowd on the correct vibe.

`Astro-Darien' is a 26-minute sonic fiction about the break-up of Britain, narrated by synthetic Scottish voices and framed as an eponymous video game. It is the second release on Hyperdub sub-label Flatlines; a dark green 10" in triple gatefold sleeve, with artwork by Kode9's long-time collaborators Lawrence Lek and Optigram, presented as a limited edition of 500 copies. From a Caledonian heart of darkness to a supernova Scotia? The documentary fiction spirals between the role of the catastrophic Darien Scheme in the late 17th century in the founding of the UK, when Scotland failed to colonise part of present-day Panama, and the contemporary disintegration of the Union. In a somewhat wild extrapolation of the race to become the Scotland's first vertical satellite launch station currently playing out between Sutherland Space Port and the Shetland Space Centre, independence is speculatively framed as an exercise of escapology, a jailbreak and exodus to an orbital space habitat, with all the risks and dangers that entails. The loose plot follows a game designer from the fictional `Trancestar North' company who, in attempting to lift the dark spell cast by Darien, models a counter-future by ingesting cosmism, the history of racial capitalism and the demise of Empire into T-Divine, the geopolitics simulator of the game engine. She follows the Brexit algorithm as it runs to its logical conclusion. Initially conceived as an audio essay for diffusion on François Bayle's 50-speaker Acousmonium for Ina-grm in Paris in March 2020, but subsequently postponed by the pandemic, `Astro-Darien' first surfaced as a three-screen A/V installation on the dance floor of Corsica Studios in June 2021, finally reaching the Acousmonium the following October. In July 2022, an instrumental rhythmic version entitled `Escapology' was released on Hyperdub. A live A/V set relating to the `Astro-Darien' game universe will debut at Unsound Festival in October 2022.

Kromestar's remastered My Sound LP Plates 1-4 all available for individual purchase.