I thought we needed a new thread that focuses on Dubstep, a genre that has seamlessly integrated into my radio show (If Only) on Ministry of Sound. Unfortunately Simbad, Bryan G and my show come to end at the close of this year due to MoS wanting to focus the radio more onto music that reflects their core releases.
Anyway, it appears we're now in the the golden age of Dubstep, with bucket loads being released every week. 2008 has definitely been the year Dubstep matured and diversified. Embracing many different sounds from soul, funk, house, jungle, broken, hip hop and not forgetting this new innovative 'wonky', off kilter, 8bit, hazy, bleepy, disjointed sound.
'Wonky' a theme - not a genre - more of a sound that doesn't restrict itself to one tempo or beat structure - has emerged across many genres of music. A global sound weaving itself across Hip Hop, Crunk, Dubstep and Electro - championed by the likes of Dabrye, Flying Lotus, Dorian Concept, Hyperdub (label), Samiyam, Quarta 330 and Mark Pritchard (Harmonic 313), is shaping the next level of beatz and sounds for the future. Becoming unformulaic, undefinable with limitless boundaries. A lot of the music production is lo-fi, centered around off kilter mid-range synths with offbeat rhythms. Dubstep though seems to have embraced the 'wonky' sound more than others, ever proving how fertile the genre now is with an 'anything goes' attitude.
In addition, a so called 'intelligent' but more appropriately described as soulful and atmospherical sound is being championed by the Dubstep headz. It would not be out of the question to suggest that if LTJ Bukem was to play Dubstep it would be from the output released by the likes of the Anti Social and Deep Medi labels. Below is a few new bits and pieces I found on Dubstepforum that typify the more atmospherical vibes, albeit not as innovative as the 'wonky' sound (all good nonetheless), set for release over the next 6 months from an artist called Silkie.
Some unreleased Silkie tunes:
http://burke.uw.hu/silkie_quest1.mp3 Headbutt The Deck
http://burke.uw.hu/silkie_quest2.mp3 Concrete Jungle
http://burke.uw.hu/silkie_quest3.mp3 Sty *think*
http://burke.uw.hu/silkie_quest4.mp3 Planet X
http://burke.uw.hu/silkie_quest5.mp3 Silkie / H.Craze collabo
http://burke.uw.hu/silkie_quest6.mp3 Bluesy
http://burke.uw.hu/silkie_quest7.mp3 unknown
http://burke.uw.hu/silkie_quest8.mp3 Test
http://burke.uw.hu/silkie_quest10.mp3 Purple Love
http://burke.uw.hu/silkie_quest11.mp3 The Horizon
There is so more going on to mention, like the Techno/Dubstep hybrid - which is just sick especially if you were a fan of the Detroit sound of Kenny Larkin, Carl Craig, etc.....
2009 promises to be an even better year with many artist albums due.
