Tornado’s Best of 2011
2011 saw dubstep become the favored sound of everyone from music journalists to candy-clad ravers. With such a wide variety of sounds represented under the ‘dubstep’ umbrella, a major split has occurred. When a scene represents everyone from Mount Kimbie to Mt Eden, it’s hard to please everybody. For those that don’t know the history of the scene, it started in south London as a response to the poppy, vocalized UK garage tunes that were getting major play in clubs. Producers like Horsepower Productions, El-B, and Zed Bias began making darker, moodier tunes that emulated the funkiness of breaks and encorporated the darker elements of drum & bass at a garage tempo. Eventually, the sound became even more minimal with half-step 70/140 BPM beats largely replacing the 2-step rhythm. Crews such as Digital Mystikz (DMZ) began throwing their own parties with an emphasis on sound system and dub culture.
The sounds of producers like Skrillex, Flux Pavilion, and Doctor P have come synonymous with ‘dubstep,’ however one could argue that their productions are the furthest thing from the roots of the sound. This debate rages daily on websites like dubstepforum.com with some attributing the change in sound to ‘evolution’ while others suggesting that the dub and atmospheric elements from classics like Skream’s “Midnight Request Line,” Loefah’s “Goat Stare,” and Mala’s “Anti War Dub” have been lost on mainstream listeners. In other words, many veteran dubsteppers feel their tight-knit scene has been infected by corporate influences due to its growing popularity - much like hip-hop when it first started receiving major label support. Additionally, dubstep has been harder to classify this year because it has taken so many hints from other scenes. More and more producers are making beats at 140 without any classifiable genre attached to them.
Regardless, there is great music being made that is true to the foundation sound of dubstep yet is still forward thinking and progressive. Below is my list of favorite tunes released this year, and the ones that have been staples in my sets.
Pinch - Swish - Deep Medi Musik
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=—XDo2FonKA&feature=related
Starting off this list with an OG who has made plenty of classics (“28 Grams” with Skream, “Qawwali”) and runs one of the best labels in the game (Tectonic) is a good way to begin. To be honest, I could have chosen from many tunes - the 12” featuring “Broken” (w/ Loefah) and “Paranormal Activity” (w/ Roska), or any number of tracks off his LP with Shackleton. Simply put, I chose “Swish” because it is an absolute dancefloor killer. Standard 16 bar intro and then pure bass weight and atmosphere. Watch this space, as I’m sure the Distance remix will be on here next year - unless it suffers the same fate as his “Changes” remix.
Biome - Space - Black Box
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twzitpSZ8Xo
Biome has been one of the best up and coming producers, and it’s only fitting that this release come on Chemical Records in-house label Black Box, which is one of the best up and coming labels in the scene. This single-sided 12” is worth the purchase as it will be in many DJ’s record boxes for years to come. Starting off with a beautiful piano melody, it then drops into a half-step monster that progresses nicely until that piano returns again - after which, you are brought back into the darkness of “Space”.
J Kenzo feat. Rod Azlan - Ruff House - Tempa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQrrm5p-WNw
One of two longtime Youngsta dubplates on this year’s list, “Ruffhouse” is an absolute smasher. Featuring dubstep veteran MC Rod Azlan on the vocal, “Ruffhouse” is J Kenzo’s best tune this year. That is saying something, as “The Roteks,” “Protected,” and “Nocturnal Feelings” were all released this year. A personal favorite of mine this year, as it possesses not only an insane amount of weight but features hard-hitting 808 drums as well.
Breton - RDI (Girl Unit Remix) - Hemlock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcKZ9H-YNcE
Girl Unit is a future bass hit factory. His debut release “Wut” on Night Slugs sounded like trap music meets Rustie, and became an anthem for the Boiler Room set. Although he has released a few remixes this year, his “RDI” re-rub is by far my favorite. It features “Percolator” style pops, sirens, a Lex Luger styled watermark and an insane bass line. With the rise in popularity of US hip-hop producers Clams Casino and AraabMuzik, Girl Unit productions would not sound out of place on a Lil’ B or A$AP Rocky mixtape.
Silkie - It’s Late - Deep Medi Musik
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDjPjB-YLQk
Aside from releasing one of the best dubstep albums this year with “City Limits vol. 2,” Silkie also released one of the best singles with “It’s Late”. Taking a cue from dubstep’s garage roots, Silkie comes with a slice of funky two-step goodness that goes down well on any dance floor.
Redlight - Source 16 - Digital Soundboy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AgzXeDp-TU&feature=related
Formerly known to the drum & bass world as Clipz, Redlight shifted directions in 2009 and released the ”Lobster Boy” EP, followed up by one of the biggest bass music anthems of 2010 with “What U Talking About!?” which helped reignite Ms. Dynamite’s career. “Source 16” sees Redlight at his best, releasing a 4x4 no-nonsense stormer that is simply infectious.
Sub Scape - Apple Candy - Dub Police
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr2kVnlsDA8
2011 was quite the year for Caspa’s Dub Police imprint. It saw the release of Emalkay’s first artist album, as well as new EPs from Matty G and The Others. The majority of Sub Scape’s “Universal” EP saw him doing his best tearout, though to me he is at his best when he is producing melodic tunes like “Midnight”. “Apple Candy” is a gorgeous tune that incorporates the “Think” break, piano, and trance synths in the best way.
Truth - The Emperor - Wheel & Deal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxuorRbdSZ0
New Zealand’s Truth come with a perfect example of how to make anthemic tearout dubstep while still maintaining integrity. Released on N-Type’s buy on sight label Wheel & Deal, the tune builds to an arena rock guitar lead before descending into madness. It sounds like what Chasing Shadows would be making had they not gone the route of KillSonik.
Joker - Back In The Days (feat. Buggzy, Shads, Scarz, & Double) (Kahn Remix) - 4AD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO-UPyl_X_w
Joker released his much anticipated debut album “The Vision” to little fanfare. Although it contained hits like the title track and last year’s “Tron,” much of the album saw Joker travelling into pop R&B territory to mixed results from fans and critics alike. “Back In The Days” features an ensemble cast of Bristolian MC’s spitting their hardest bars over a catchy, surprisingly non-Purple beat. As if releasing singles and an album wasn’t enough, Joker linked fans to a free EP of instrumentals and remixes on his Facebook page - and vowed to guest list as many fans as possible to his upcoming gigs. One of the tunes featured on the free EP was a remix of the album’s best track remixed by diverse up and comer Kahn (“Way Mi Defend,” “Illy”). Kahn’s remix just edges out the original and is one of my favorite tunes this year.
Sub Scape - Screw Up (Matty G Remix) - Dub Police
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgwubVn2Sro
Sub Scape’s second appearance on this list comes due to Santa Cruz-based Matty G, famous for 808 bangers like “50,000 Watts” and “Turf Warz”. Matty provides an exemplary remix, taking the original tearout tune and transforming it into his own sub-bass hip-hop/dubstep monster hybrid. This tune is beastly on a system.
Darq E Freaker - Cherryade - Oil Gang
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwos4aFieyA
2011 saw both of dubstep’s predecessors, UK garage and grime, become reinvigorated. DJs like Plastician regularly play grime on Rinse, and veteran grime producer J Sweet is part of N-Type’s Wheel & Deal family. This is without a doubt the “Spartan” of 2011 - an anthem that has been vocalled by every MC, both professional and otherwise, but the instrumental remains the best.
Kryptic Minds - Time Flies (feat. Alys Be) - Osiris Music UK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28or5Fc0vuA
Former drum & bass producers Kryptic Minds released their second album, “Can’t Sleep,” on Black Box this year. While any number of tunes from the album could have made this list, “Time Flies” takes the title for it’s pure amount of bass weight and it’s musicality. This is an example of dubstep that could easily be played on the radio - if radio frequencies could broadcast really bass heavy tunes - and still be true to the roots of the sound.
Benton - 20/20 - Wheel & Deal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txvopphvNNw
Benton released an incredible amount of music this year, and it was difficult to choose which of his productions to feature on this list. Quickly becoming one of my favorite producers whether he’s doing tearout (“Smash That Badger”/”New-Ro-Phen”) or deeper tunes (“Necromancy”/”Sinners”), “20/20” is one of the best releases this year. Clever sample, brooding atmospherics, and killer drums make this my favorite tune of his for 2011.
Lurka - Prophet VIP - Live Beyond
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fEFE0JbwkA
Similar to Benton and Biome, Lurka has emerged as one to watch for 2012. Releasing a killer 12” on Black Box with Commodo, the VIP version of “Prophet” is an amazing bit of music that sets the pace for any of my sets. The intro consists of a chanting vocal sample before becoming a half-stepping roller with enough subtle changes that you can drop it in the middle of a set as well.
SP:MC & LX One - Hunted - Tempa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jd6FIQjck8
Another one of Youngsta’s dubplates to be released this year is SP & LX One’s “Hunted”. MCs by trade, SP and LX collaborate on one of the hardest hitting beats this year. Beginning with a 16-bar intro and a “Dexter” sample, the drums then give way to a rattling synth that shakes any woofer worth it’s weight. Essential tune for any set.
Honorable Mention:
Coki - Ruff Lovin’ - White
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SmREVXIsUk
This receives my “honorable mention” this year as it was technically out around 2007 - though only a select few had it. It is a dubstep rework of Minnie Ripperton’s anthem “Loving You”. I first heard it on N-Type’s “Dubstep Allstars” some years ago and, like many dubsteppers, wanted to get my hands on it. As is the case with many tunes, I was resigned to thinking this would be forever a dubplate. Then, to everyone’s surprise, Coki announced he would be doing a limited 12” white label pressing in advance of his upcoming DMZ EP. Luckily, I snagged two copies and this will remain in my collection forever.
Roll on 2012!
