Dubspot

[Gappy Ranks - "English Money" (Bassrunner, Dec. 2010).]

Gappy Ranks wants some money, and with songs like “English Money“, he’s gonna be busy stackin. This is one triumphant track, soaring with an epic sense of success. The massive kicks drop from the highest reaches possible, making the bounce so much higher. Prolific rolls drum rolls flitter around easily in the ample space left in the kicks’ wake, which keep the pace energetic. His auto-tuned voice gets twisted into whining synth, while a coarse bassline plows through any adversity. He even offers advise for the ghetto yout with the same idea, telling them to go to school and learn to write and read, then go to university and get a degree. No one can be mad at that, right?! This bashy goodness was produced by Austria’s Bassrunner Productions. – MS

[Guido - "Korg Back" (Tectonic, Dec. 2010).]

Like most of the ‘purple‘ sound coming out of Bristol, “Korg Back” has a sort of primitive futurism hanging about it, sounding like a portrait of coming decades as envisioned from the ’80s. It’s a dangerous place where everyday technologies ceased progressing but function next to some true advancements. Basically Trancers or something. With a half step, boom bap lean, Guido walks a series of synths around a gelatinous loop that rolls through the entire track. Each section warbles in circles, usually breaking out of the pattern briefly to introduce the next. Epic organs flutter high above arpeggiated pianos that stagger about swampland sliders and foggy fuzz. “Korg” was released as part of the Scientist Launches Dubstep Into Outer Space! compilation on Tectonic Records. Read up on that with our new article. – MS

[Rita Indiana - "Los Poderes (Kingdom Remix)" (Dutty Artz, Nov. 2010). FREE DL!]

Syncopated click-claps crash into a slingshot of sounds every few measures like a whip knocking over a cluttered table. A sample of Rita Indiana’s vocals floats about in the background alongside a warped synth tuning in and out. But a full verse makes an appearance as the focal point for a bit, and in a deep throated voice she belts out that Domican flavor. Featured on the recent New York Tropical compilation, this track is a remix of the single she released on Dutty Artz back in July. If you’re diggin this, try and roll through Club Infinity tomorrow night in Manhattan, which is Kingdom’s monthly party with Dre Skull and features Roska as a special guest. – MS