Dubstep is a genre that I never really listened to until recently. 2010 was a huge year for Dubstep and I thought it was important to see what the fuss was all about. I'm glad I did as I've discovered some great artists. For those of you wondering what Dubstep is, I would loosely define it as a slowed down drum & bass. But it's so much more than that as I found out.


Burial was one of the big names who really put Dubstep on the map, from my knowledge anyway. The man behind Burial hid behind his music letting it do the talking. Wise move. Burial's sound is atmospheric and urban. The urban sound didn't appeal to me so I didn't really take much notice, instead concentrating on other genres. Then I heard some Dubstep that made me take note. Dubstep with more electronic sounding influences.


Two such artists who make emotive Dubstep are Phaeleh and Clubroot. Phaeleh was brought to my attention when I heard Niki & the Dove - Mother Protect (Phaeleh's Ravebomb Mix) on Radio 1. It's an uplifting breaks track with some old school vibes. Here a free legit download of that very track below.


Niki & the Dove - Mother Protect (Phaeleh's Ravebomb Mix) - free download link


I was surprised to discover that Phaeleh specialises in producing atmospheric Dubstep. People new to this artist should check out the albums 'Within the Emptyness' (2009) and 'Fallen Light' (2010). There's plenty to like on 'Within the Empyness' but it's 'Fallen Light' which contains his real gems. Opening track 'Afterglow' features Soundmouse on vocals. This is a slow burning number that really pulls on the emotions. The same can be said of 'Breathe in air', again with Soundmouse on vocals. IMHO they are two masterpieces. The album is consistent and well worth your hard earned cash. You can hear both these tracks along with others by clicking on the link below.


Phaeleh on Soundcloud


Clubroot is another producer that got my attention. He has two albums so far under his belt. His debut self-titled 2009 album starts off with eerie atmospherics before the beat unfolds. This is deep atmospheric dubstep with plenty of trickery and samples that satisfy. Check out 'Dulcet', a well crafted track for sure!


However, it's on his second album 'II - MMX' (2010) that his production skills really shine. Opening track 'Orbiting' has uplifting flute samples which make for a fine opening. Another highlight is the track 'Closure' with its cinematic theme and catchy beatwork. Sublime stuff! Check out his myspace link below


Clubroot Myspace


Another 2010 album which could broadly be described as Dubstep is Clouds are Mountains by Eleven Tigers. There's some great tracks on there. Some of the beats are faster than a lot of dubstep but it really works well on the album. You can listen to his work by clicking on the link below.


Eleven Tigers on Bandcamp


Dubstep has had a huge impact on many electronic producers. So much so that artists who once made other genres of electronic music have started making dubstep. Hexstatic who are better known for their breaks and electro have crossed over into dubstep territory with their latest album 'Trailer Trax' (2010). Photek, AKA Rupert Parkes, best known for his unique form of Drum & Bass has come up with a track called 'Slowburn' from his forthcoming Avalanche EP due out in February. It's dubstep for sure but you can still tell it's his work. Is this his new direction or is he just trying his hand at a different genre? Time will tell. You can download 'Slowburn' for free by signing up to his mailing list using the link below.


Photek Homepage


Finally James Blake is the name on many peoples lips and is tipped for big things in 2011. His self-titled album is due to drop in February and is already receiving high praise. Some would say it wasn't really dubstep at all, it just combines soft vocals with refreshing understated effects. His version of 'Limit to your love' is a must hear though. You can hear it on the link below.


James Blake Homepage


Dubstep has grown into a huge beast, morphing into many different forms, a bit like drum & bass has. It'll be interesting to see how it evolves from here on in......

No Comments have been Posted.

Please Login to Post a Comment.

---