The ill-ec-tro-nic

I've been busy purchasing some brand new Dub Techno and Future Dubstep releases of late and there seems no let up in the quality of new material that is springing up out of these merging scenes. It really is a fertile time for the 'Dubtec' genre at the moment with superb releases from the likes of Scuba, STP (Shed) and T++ all gracing my stereo of late.

For this post I'm going to focus on 4 releases that have really hit it big with me.

Intrusion is one of the many aliases for Stephen Hitchell who co-runs the Echospace label out of Detroit which is the American home of all things Dub Techno. 'The Seduction of Silence' is the new album and as you'd expect it is full of classic Basic Channel inspired Dub excursions. 'Little Angel' featuring the unstoppable Paul St Hilaire is the highlight for me.

Intrusion - Little Angel feat Paul St Hilaire // Echospace [Detroit]
The CD is a strictly limited edition of 300 copies but you can buy the high quality MP3s at Beatport

Next we move into more familiar Dubstep territory and some tracks which you may have heard a lot of lately, Bad/2 Bad by Kode 9 Vs LD. This release has been getting lots of attention recently and showcases Kode 9's newer influences from the crossover Techno sound on 'Bad' and also the 'Funky' sound currently sweeping the British underground. (2 Bad)

Kode 9 Vs LD - Bad // Hyperdub Buy

Martyn was one of a handful of producers that really broke through last year and his new album released this month has many people salivating with anticipation. Martyn's metallic synth sound is very distinctive, so I was quite surprised when I heard this next track. I initially thought 'The Untitled Dub' by F could be one of his productions. However 'F' is the rather minimal moniker of one F. Aupetit, who releases material through the French label 7even

The Martyn comparisons aside, this is a seriously good slice of Techno Dubstep.

F - The Untitled Dub // 7even Recordings Buy

7even were featured on Mary Anne Hobbs' Radio 1 experimental show on Jan 13th. You can download a 30 min mix of fresh upfront 7even releases through their myspace

And saving the best til last we have a seriously good remix package that has just been released on Aus Music. 'If Alone' feat Paul St Hilaire (yes him again) by Sideshow has been given the remix treatment from Chateau Flight plus Appleblim and Komonazmuk. The very chilled out original has been transformed into a beautiful dubbed out slice of Tech House on the Chateau Flight mix but it is the Appleblim and Komonasmuk remix which is gathering much attention as they have transformed it into a straight up 140 bpm Techno track complete deep subs and a breakdown of Balearic style guitars lifted from the original.

However it is after the second breakdown about 5 mins in that this track really takes off when in comes the classic 2 step 'swing' of stuttering beats along with the metallic Techno shards, elevating this track to instant future classic status. Essential.

Sideshow - If Alone feat Paul St Hilaire (Appleblim and Komonazmuk Remix) // Aus Music Buy

One other special mention goes out to the new release from Scuba. 'Tense' is a brilliant slice of future Dubstep and follows on very nicely from the remix packages that were released at the end of last year. Scuba has done an exclusive hour long podcast for XLR8R magazine, where you can capture glimpses of his own productions plus Techno and future dub. It is one of the best mixes out there to showcase this sound.

I have just come across two albums which have managed to sneak their way into my consciousness just before the inevitable end of year roundups. Albums from both Shed and Scuba had escaped my ears earlier in the year but I'm very glad I've caught up with them now.

I became aware of Shed after the excellent remix he did of Substance's 'Relish' back in July, but didn't do any more digging for his other releases. Thankfully Boomkat pointed me in the right direction placing 'Estrange' as one of their tracks of the year. Upon hearing this gem I then sought out the excellent album 'Shedding The Past' which was released back in September on Berlin label Ostgut Tontrager, which when translated bizarrely means 'Ostrogoths Sound Carrier'!!? Despite the Ostrogoths being a tribe of East Germanic Goths from the Roman Empire days, this is an album of dub infused Techno and Electronica. 'Estrange' is the highlight for me with its mournful synths and future steppa drum patterns.

Shed - Estrange // Ostgut Tontrager Buy

Substance are one of the artists contributing a mixes for a series of remix 12"s of 'A Mutual Antipathy' the excellent album by Scuba released back in April of this year. Other artists brought in to mix selected tracks are Dutch Dubstep wonderkind Martyn and Berlin's Berghain resident Marcel Dettmann

Substance bring's his usual deep Berlin Dub Techno style to proceedings but it is the two mixes by Jamie Vex'd and Surgeon which are the undesputed highlights for me. Vex'd goes so far leftfield on his mix of 'Twitch' that that he his positively off the chart, combining big sub bass with wonky synth work and stuttering beats, reminding me of Jackson and His Computer Band's best glitchy work. Essential. Buy

Surgeon's effort bridges the Techno/Dubstep divide like no other track I've heard. It has the pumelling beats of his best Techno work, but has the undeniable swing of great 2 Step and Dubstep. The 'Is it Techno or Dubstep?' lines have become really blurred on this one. Superb.

Scuba - Ruptured (Surgeon Remix) // Hotflush Buy

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