Show Review: V.I.V.E.K., Joe Nice, DJ Tornado & Primary Residents

Photo Courtesy of Dan Horvath

Opportunities to experience well-curated dubstep of the deeper and darker variety are relatively few and far between in America; this is especially the case in the Midwest. This makes appearances by the likes of System Sound founder V.I.V.E.K. and "America's dubstep ambassador" Joe Nice truly memorable. As anticipated, both delivered outstanding sets this past Thursday at Chicago's Primary Nightclub.

Hannah Wants & Chris Lorenzo - You Love Me

The duo of Hannah Wants and Chris Lorenzo have proved themselves a formidable pairing, known for relentlessly turning out crisp, bass-heavy house that takes no prisoners. 'You Love Me,' as with many Wants/Lorezno productions makes use of repeated vocal samples, energetic rhythms of the jacking variety, and dark synths reminiscent of deep dubstep. The track's half-step breakdowns give the entire composition room to breathe, allowing the sub-bass to come through nicely-- a frequency-range too often neglected in the genre of house as a whole.

-Farsight

Seablaze - Disc 1: Kalm

A newcomer espousing the seapunk aesthetic with gusto, Chicago's very own Seablaze is appropriately poised to release his first offering on Russia's Hyperboloid Records, a veritable treasure trove of hyperactive beats that revel in their own internet-fueled pastiche. Sporting the typical palette of incessantly melodic day-glo synths while tastefully re-appropriating aspects of trap, juke, and more experimental sub-genres, Seablaze has hit upon a particularly compelling combination that is greater than the sum of its parts, an increasingly rare achievement in this particular (and often maligned) musical niche. Seablaze has graciously offered 'Pastel Spells,' a more restrained cut from the release as a free download, here.

-Farsight

Tessela - Horizon

Serving as the flip side to Tessela's new single 'Nancy's Pantry,' 'Horizon' serves up a fiery dose of what we've come to expect from the producer of the much celebrated 'Hackney Parrot'-- crushing breaks, serious low-end and straightforward melodies reminiscent of 90's house. 'Horizon' makes particular use of irregular rhythms, exploding out of its otherwise predictable introductory buildup with an angular, stop-start breakdown that could shatter windows.

-Farsight

Farsight - Lockup

Finally ending a considerable break from production, a new track has been released under my Farsight moniker. Featuring elements of futuristic grime and trap infused with an abstract twist, 'Lockup' is a personal reinterpretation of recent listening favorites. Download it for zero dollars here.

-Farsight