music that doesn't suck.
D1 - Trial Run EP
Since I first decided I needed to figure what this whole 'dubstep' thing was all about, D1's been one of my favorites. This new EP is great. The title track is full of wobbly bass and really awesome, super-cinematic strings. The real surprise for me on this one is the 5th track, Mind and Soul, which is just about one chopped amen away from being a 92-style hardcore dancefloor destroyer.... now, where'd i leave that copy of jungle tools?
T++ - Aquatic / Storm
Just listened to this one for the first time, and it is gorgeous, dark, engaging techno. T++ has a new twelve out now, entitled Allied, that's getting rave reviews as well. I'm really anxious to get my hands on that one.
Blackmass Plastics - Quarantine EP
As with D1's Trial Run, I'm really loving some of the new dubstep releases I'm hearing that are eschewing the plodding, all wobble halfstep pattern and branching out. The top track on this for me is This Is a Rave. Full-on, no-nonsense dancefloor material with heavy, dark electro bass, which reminds me of Jackal & Hyde's Seek & Destroy, and a fun "Pump up the volume - THIS IS A RAVE!" vocal sample.
Kanye West - Can't Tell Me Nothin'
Promo mixtape courtesy of Plain Pat for the upcoming album. As much as I wanted to not like this, it's infectious. You get Kanye and friends doing their thing over solid beats including beatjacks & samples from Daft Punk, Thom Yorke, and Peter Bjorn & John. And for bonus points, GLC's I Ain't Even On Yet just supplied me & my crew with a new summer catchphrase.