There have been tons great EDM tracks released as free downloads in the past week; coming from big names, as well as producers on the rise. Since this is my first BLKHDY music review, I will showcase music that best reflects my taste. I will also give in-depth background information on everything surrounding the music because I think it is important to be an informed listener. With that being said, I have quite a few tracks for you.
First up, a free download from UK Dubstep producer Sparxy.
I absolutely love this one. It’s longer than the average Dubstep tune, timing in at 7:19. The progression on top of the crushing sub bass really draws you in and the breakdown makes for an incredible climax bringing high energy and sinister vibes until the end of the track.
I found out about Sparxy when I saw his set (Listen/Download set) on GetDarkerTV #143 (Watch in HD), and I was drawn to his sound from the start. He produces tracks that have been supported by the likes of Skream, Benga, Distance, N-Type, and Plastician. He is a MakeItGood resident DJ (Listen/DL his recent MakeItGood x FatKidOnFire mix + read an awesome interview), he hosts a two-hour show every Sunday on Rood.FM, and destroys dancefloors across Europe. Oh, I forgot to mention that he is also the founder/owner of BacanDubs, which was nominated for DubstepForum‘s 2012 “Best New Label” award. Long-story short, Sparxy is a stud, don’t sleep on him or BaconDubs.
Next, a freebie from the mysterious London beat collective Old Apparatus.
As soon as you hear the track start, you can tell that it is not going to be traditional Dubstep. Very experimental, “Kocol” has a sound unique to Old Apparatus. The feeling you get when you hear Old Apparatus is intended; their experimental music and their anonymous persona are achieving it together, through both aspects. In 2011, the duo came onto the scene with a release on Mala‘s Deep Medi Musik label made up of two ten-minute, abstract, industrial sounding mixes. Releases have been scarce since their first last year, but the anonymous collective is releasing the four-track “Derren EP” on 16 July as the first release on their Sullen Tone imprint. For more on the forthcoming release, click here.
A free track from LA-based Megalodon‘s “Twisted Metal EP” [SUBWAYDS 007]
This track in one word: heavy.
“Triple Bypass is a signature Megalodon track.. Heavy kicks and snares combined with skanked out wobbles.. And still keeping it serious.”
Even though Megalodon was formed only 4 years ago in San Fransisco, his impact on the Dubstep scene has been significant. Hard work in the studio has led to tracks being supported by Jakes, Plastician, N-Type, Hatcha, 16 Bit, Rod Azlan, Radio 1Xtra‘s MistaJam, as well as radio support on BBC Radio 1 and RinseFM. 2012 has potential to be a huge year for this DJ/Producer, with forthcoming releases on labels like Sin City, Basshead, Subway, Dubstar.
“Triple Bypass” was released on the “Twisted Metal EP” by Subway Music Group, on Subway Recordings‘ Destination Series. In addition, the other four tracks on Megaolodon’s Subway debut are consistently high quality; you won’t be able to stop your body from skanking out to whole EP from start to finish.
Subway is a top-notch label, with releases from artists such as TRG, DJ Madd, Reso, Seven, Matta, Killawatt, Matt-U, and Unitz.
This time from Dub Cartel Recordings, a freebie from Megalodon has been made available. This one is massive. The kicks will knock you over, and the sub bass will keep you from getting up.
This awesome collaboration of Substeppers‘s production and DJ Raggs‘s saxophone is really well done, and hopefully it is first of many dubstep live instrumental collaborations
A generous give-away from the UK duo Genetix
This track brings rolling drums on top of a bass-line that resembles a Coki-style bubbling bass, which is bound to get you skanking back and forth even at the computer. The duo of Shift and DJ Tron came together to form Genetix about three years ago, initially focusing primarily on Drum n Bass. After success in the DnB scene, it was time to experiment with Dubstep. Shift released the track “Jericho” under the alias “Hoax” and it gained enough popularity through the UKF YouTube channel for Shift and Tron to make another Dubstep track. “Squid Attack” was the product of that effort. Pushed hard by Circus Records‘ FuntCase early on, it didn’t take long for the rest of the Circus Records crew to jump on it. Now on Z Audio and Audio Phreaks, Genetix is receiving support from the likes of Nero, Doctor P, Statelapse, and Downlink – just to name a few. For a more in-depth look at Genetix, peep this interview for a good read and some more tracks.
Download this massive, massive track from London’s P-Note
P-Note seems to have been channeling Coki when he was putting this one together, because it sounds nearly identical to Coki’s style. This is a seriously big tune from the boss of the Disquiet Mind label, whose releases have been on Disquiet Mind and Dank N Dity Dubz.
A free remix of Busy Signal & Movado’s classic dance-hall track “Badman Place” by Widowmaker. Click for Download (.mp3) / Click for Download (.wav)
Coming with suggestions of a UK funky workout for the infamous Jamaican acapella, Widowmaker’s version rolls in on skippy rim-shots, crashes and flattened kicks; the sound-system siren and reverberated vocal soon invites a deeper, lurching movement however, and as the first verse is set on its way the tune tips its hat to the raw subject and swing of the original basement recording.
This, more so than Coki‘s or, before that, Smut‘s reworking, has a definite sense of the dance-hall roots from which it comes and adds to this the weight and space of dubstep.
That’s it for this week, check back later for more free music, an art review on Vagabond arts, and pictures from Impulse music festival!
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