Mosca - Bax

Tight work from Mosca, Bax is an earful for sure. Mosca has found an addictive sweet spot somewhere between old school house and tasteful dubstep that is streamlined, stylish and satisfying.

Farsight - Keep Rockin'

Ok, eventually I'm going to be putting out a 4 track EP. It's coming soon! Until then, this is the first track I'll be uploading for listening. Keep your ears to the ground, I promise you'll like what you hear.

Clicks & Whistles - Fumando

Huge sounds from Clicks & Whistles; serious heat. A lot of trap I hear is pretty formulaic party music, so it's nice to hear some unexpected sounds along with the banging bass. Despite the unimaginative weed reference, C&W bring some off the wall sounds and turn heads. Definitely working this one into a set very soon.

Aphex Twin - Alberto Balsalm

Some classic Aphex Twin for your Sunday. 'Alberto Balsalm' off the the album ...I Care Because You Do reminds me that electronic music isn't always just for dancing, although you could probably groove to this if you wanted. The track makes excellent use of an pensive melody backed with choice samples; a persistent flicking lighter acts as percussion and various metallic hits are tastefully interspersed. This is a fantastic song for late nights or early, sleepy mornings.

Kahn - Dread

'Dread' represents the electronic music marriage I've always wanted. Seminal dubstep label Deep Medi will be releasing a track by Kahn, a producer who I've been digging heavily and actively following for a good year now. This is a profoundly satisfying moment because both parties have been huge on my musical radar and it's awesome to see Kahn's quality of work be acknowledged by Mala, Deep Medi boss and famed producer in his own right.

The track itself brings serious bassweight with a dancehall vibe; a coarsely voiced MC starts off the track in fine dub form. The toasting soon cuts out and gives way to a minimal, dark arrangement, featuring a rolling sub and delay drenched hits. 'Dread' is ultimately some of Kahn's weightiest work (on par with 'Way Mi Defend'), perfect for a release on Mala's imprint. 

Happa - Freak

Happa at 15 years old is turning out heat I would expect of a production veteran. Freak is a crisply produced techno smasher with dark vibes and an infectious beat. Simple yet brooding, I can't help but draw comparisons to Kryptic Minds and other dungeon-esque dubstep producers translated to a 4 on the floor beat with added flavor. Loving it.

LV and Okmalumkoolkat - Sebenza

Hyperdub signed trio LV have teamed up with South African MC talent to put out some serious heat. 'Sebenza' comes alive as a grime-styled track with Okmalumkoolkat dropping a dizzying amount of wordplay and pop-culture references (see: "I stay fly I I Peter Pan'a / I'm Peter Parker / Stay fly never land'a / I'll never die / Multiply, Highlander"). The accompanying video features Koolkat and his crew getting down in Johannesburg, loitering in style, doing doughnuts on the outskirts of town and busting out their best dance moves. Definitely give this track a listen and the video a watch.

Obey City - ↓ Down & Up ↑

Obey City first entered my life through Rustie's Radio 1 Essential Mix and I hope he doesn't leave any time soon. It's clear why Rustie has toured North America with Obey in recent weeks; he's got the Lucky Me sound down pat. Hip hop influenced percussion, chopped vocals and futuristic synths to the nines, Down & Up recalls shades of Hudson Mohawke, Machinedrum, and of course Rustie. Although the track doesn't necessarily bring anything unheard of to the style, it emulates it with deftness and savvy.

Vaun - Love and Learn

Smooth as silk production from relative newcomer Vaun; I can't get enough of this track right now. Ethereal vocals and warm synths flow effortlessly with a shifting sub to create what reminds me of a more soulful and spacious version of Icicle's 'Galactic Step'. You can also listen to a longer version of 'Love and Learn' uploaded to youtube here. It's worth the view to hear the song go double time on the third drop, it swings like a beast.

Mala - The Tunnel

I hadn't heard new work from Mala in a good while, so when I heard Mala In Cuba was up for release I was more than a bit ecstatic. As the title suggests, the Deep Medi label head has crafted 14 tracks infused with the vibrant and varied musical heritage of Cuba. Mala spares no opportunity to employ luscious acoustic instrumentation, lending the album a pervasive warmth and glow. The sound is refreshingly organic, eschewing the stylistic origins of dubstep (the industrial milieu of Croydon) for a rumba-tinged take on Mala's signature style. 'The Tunnel' is a heavy hitter showcasing exactly why I am so fond of this album already. Enjoy!

B.o.B. Feat. Lil Wayne - Strange Clouds (Big Dope P Remix)

I've had my eye on France's Big Dope P since I heard his remix of Canblaster and Berou's 'Kapongo Dance'    which caught my attention immediately with its unrelenting footwork beats and top-notch production quality. While typically I'm not the hugest fan of B.o.B or Weezy, Dope P has warped the track 'Strange Clouds' into a hyperactive dancefloor smasher that had me hooked from the first measure. The complimentary blend of hip-hop and juke is intensified with a pinch of electro and dubstep influence to keep things nice and crazy.

Al-Jabbah - نجمي الإسقاط (Astral Projection)

Middle Eastern percussion coupled with heavy bass is a marriage made in vibe heaven. Al-Jabbah of Ireland conjures a highly visceral yet atmospheric species of bass music that explores this combination and captivates thoroughly. Every track featured on Al-Jabbah's soundcloud including Astral Projection is crisply produced and rife with sonic texture. Put on some nice headphones or crank that sub, this is definitely worth a discerning listen.

MONGO SKATO - TRAI

Just recently I've noticed a trend of mine on this blog to focus more on established artists. Let's shake that up a bit with MONGO SKATO of New Zealand. In his track TRAI, Mongo exhibits raw talent and rhythm in a style that blends the fast, percussive bass hits of trap with steady melodic synth stabs reminiscent of house. Mongo's refined approach to footwork beats is addictive; here's hoping for a release sometime in the near future.

Flosstradamus - Rollup (Baauer Remix)

Whoops, its been a while, huh? The kids sure like their trap music these days. Chicago's Flosstradamus have poised themselves at the fore of this movement and they've got beats on beats to back them up. This remix by Brooklyn's Baauer gives "Rollup" more space to breathe than the original while keeping it dirt. Keep yo subs cranked.

Sepalcure - Pencil Pimp

Big things from Sepalcure, here. Released on Scuba's Hotflush Recordings, Sepalcure traffic complex beats that draw heavy influence from juke just as much as jungle, often featuring lush and atmospheric synthesizers on top. Pencil Pimp finds the duo in fine form, doing what they do best. They'll be playing this Friday, the 20th of July, alongside Travis Stewart's (of Sepalcure) solo moniker, Machinedrum and somewhat perplexingly, legendary producer and rapper Pete Rock  at 1015 Folsolm in San Francisco.

Kwesachu - Visual Mind Control

This curiosity from Kwesachu, a collaboration between producer Kwes and multi-instrumentalist Micachu instantly caught my ear. The production sounds somewhat murky, although it doesn't obscure the overall effect, as the track is quite compelling. The use of acoustic drums is a somewhat refreshing choice, backing a syncopated synth line and Micachu's harmonious voice. A little bit of a departure from the straight ahead electronic music I tend to post, but a little breather never hurts.

Kahn - Fierce

With all sincerity, I can say that every single one of Kahn's releases to date is gold. As the most prominent member of Bristol's forward-thinking Young Echo collective (recommended listening for sure), Kahn's work is typically experimental in some regard. His versatility as a producer is remarkable; from the old school, dark vibes of Way Mi Defend to the delicate, ethereal whispers of Altar VIP, the quality is consistent and impressive.

While Kahn's tracks can be quite cerebral, there is nothing pensive about 'Fierce'. This is the kind of track you get rowdy to. The pummeling bass line has a visceral, almost drunken swagger to it. Expertly, Kahn keeps the track no-frills to achieve maximum effect, relying on rhythm and bass to get the message across. Can't wait to see this guy on Friday.

Boddika & Joy Orbison - Swims (Alternate Mix)

Apparently I missed the memo on this one until now; heavy hitters Boddika and Joy Orbison joined forces to create this beast of a tune. As can be expected from anything Boddika puts out, the beats are syncopated, minimalistic bliss. While the original iteration of this song is more sparse and emphasizes the percussion, this alternate version adds an infectious 90's style progression to fill out the mix around 2:32. Swims and its alternate mix saw release on Loefah's Swamp 81 records.

Proxima & Nymfo - Headless Housefly

I can't say I really know much about Nymfo or Proxy, but this incisive, dark drum and bass roller speaks for itself. The breaks are expertly implemented and keep the bass line sounding fresh as they switch up throughout the song. This track was released on Frequency, a label which has released early material by a number of producers I admire.

XXXY - You Always Start It

This track is nostalgia in song form. Memories and fragments of times past come into a cohesive whole in my mind like the trailer for a memoir that will never be made. The melody slowly falls in and out of time with the beat, producing glimmering moments of unison that fade again to beautiful imperfection. I live for works like this

Free track by XXXY available here

Roy Davis Jr. Feat. Peven Everett - Gabriel (Live Garage Mix)

It's been a while since I've heard a track so smooth and soulful. A steady, syncopated beat keeps time as a lush bassline, a rhodes piano, and subdued bongos evoke a pleasantly jazzy feel. Without a doubt though, what really makes this track are the absolutely on point vocals. Chilled out vibes for sure.

Skudge - Pressure Drop

Swedish duo Skudge are pretty much on fire at this point. Having first reared their heads in 2009 with an EP, Skudge have since put out fourteen more releases, and along the way established a record label of the same name. With an apparent affinity for analogue equipment, Skudge assemble four to the floor journeys that change slowly and subtly. Repetition is the order of the day, as Skudge take heavy cues from techno and minimal house sensibilities. For fresh ears, their 2011 album 'Phantom' is a great place to start, featuring the club smashing 'Pressure Drop,' and the staggered synths of 'Surplus' to name only two tracks.

Cluekid - Grim

Blending the sounds of old school jungle with the 140 bpm rhythms of dubstep is Cluekid, producer and purveyor of the Bullfrog Beats imprint. Clue's production work features smooth and prominent sub-bass in every track as well as steady but restrained beats, sometimes accompanied by atmospheric synths. The resulting sound is a throwback to early dubstep with heavy jungle influence, most easily heard in tracks such as Ninety Three, which as the name suggests, sounds like it could very well be a long lost track from the early nineties.

Absolutely not to be missed is 'Caan Eat Mi Out,' a remix that in my mind encapsulates everything dubstep should be, making use of heavy reggae vibes and an unstoppable rolling bass line.

Digital Mystikz - Horrid Henry

This past Saturday I had the amazing privilege of attending a show featuring Mala, one half of the the most venerable act in dubstep, Digital Mystikz, and head of the Deep Medi label. 'Horrid Henry' represents Digital Mystikz at their most volatile; other mainstays of their catalogue include the grimey, rolling bass of 'Haunted', and the hypnotizing 'Alicia'.

If you ever get a chance to see the Mystikz or just Mala or Coki, I can't recommend going for it highly enough. The sheer emphasis on pure sub-bass means that it needs to be heard on a large scale sound system to be truly appreciated; I felt like I had finally heard their tracks for the first time that night despite having listened to them many times before.

Calibre and High Contrast - Mr. Majestic

Sleek drum and bass roller from veterans Calibre and High Contrast. Strong reggae vibes on this one, complete with a fantastic horn sample. I happened across this tune while listening to a mix by the ever prolific Marcus Intalex, which is for download here. Intalex's ear for chilled out drum and bass never disappoints; his vibes are perfect for summer listening.

Tripping Bass Mix #1

Fresh heat from yours truly, featuring some tracks I've been digging heavily at the moment. It's for download, so get at it. Look out for Randomer's 'Brunk' getting mixed in with Santigold around 4:30. Also, Pearson Sound's 'Untitled' always brings the house down. Always.

Tracklist:
SBTRKT - Laika 
Blawan - Iddy 
Santigold - Look at These Hoes 
Randomer - Brunk 
El-B - Digital 
Falty DL - My Friends Will Always Say 
Ramadanman - Work Them 
Pearson Sound - Untitled

Alix Perez - Contradictions

When it comes to drum and bass, Alix Perez doesn't fool around. Repping the Shogun Audio label, Perez has repeatedly demonstrated a keen understanding of his genre and a consistent ability to construct innovative tracks. 'Contradictions' features a sublimely-crafted bass line intertwining gracefully with a nostalgic piano progression; in unison, they produce a chill vibe like no other. When I throw this track on, everything else falls into the background.

The Phantom's Revenge - Death By Chillwave

The Phantom's Revenge deftly serves up fresh French house that people can't seem to get enough of. I love this guy's sampling; his infectious track Charlie features soundbites from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia that just make the song, making it hard to know whether you should dance or laugh out loud.

Objekt - Cactus

Straight out of Berlin comes TJ Hertz, known as Objekt. I first came across Objekt's work in the form of a wildly inventive remix of SBTRKT's Wildfire that absolutely killed while retaining almost nothing but vocals from the original tune. Since then, Objekt has released his tracks Cactus and Porcupine on the always on-point Hessle Audio imprint.

What strikes me most immediately about Objekt's style is his marriage of techno and dubstep aesthetics, an increasingly prevalent practice it seems. Old school 808 drum hits reverberate alongside sub-heavy wobbles to create a sort of mash-up through time. This guy has got chops for days.

Boddika - Soul What

When he's not busy looking like he could be a henchman in a James Bond film, Alex Green, aka Boddika, is putting out some ferocious, percussion-driven tracks that tend to rock a minimalist feel. Soul What, released on Loefah's well-established Swamp 81 label is an excellent showcase of Boddi's impeccable knack for beat-making with a simplistic approach; the rhythm is propulsive yet uncrowded. And, needless to say, the synth breakdown at 0:58 is just mental. I'm hooked.