POSTS TAGGED : Dub

Mailer – ‘Rokkaku Group’

‘Rokkaku Group’ is the debut single from new London-based producer, Mailer, who cultivates a compelling, concise and hypnotic sound.

Fusing elements broken techno, breaks, dub, and hip hop, Mailer crafts something we’d expect from far more seasoned hands, embracing experimental sound design to evoke vivid, dystopian imagery.

The single, ‘Rokkaku Group’, demonstrates these attributes in abundance driving the dancefloor dynamics through a deep, sparse and subterranean world. Crisp beats patter a groove while a winding atmospheric synth oozes an eeriness that joins with the sparse surrounding to engulf the refined bass work. There is a rather beautiful yet eerily sinister aura that marks ‘Rokkaku Group’ dominated initially by restrained percussion and a hollowed out, murky spaciousness – this dynamic does however, afford room for space, space that’s filled with hypnotic potency and rich atmospherics. As good a debut as you are likely to hear – this is sublime.

Listen to ‘Rokkaku Group’ below now: 

Monggrel – ‘Dhobi Ghat’

Monggrel is US producer – AKA  B. Wood – who fuses lo-fi beats, dub rhythms, industrial noise, and field recordings into an immersive listening experience.

Monggrel recently released his latest album, Ceremonies, and latest single ‘Dhobi Ghat’ offers a perfect introduction to the record, and the artist. From the first note, Monggrel creates an ominous pitch black soundscape that is suitably murky, eerie and subterranean. Stark, minimal production and haunting repetition creates an eerie vibe for a murmuring malaise of beats, clanking synth and dub infused groove and subterranean tones to swirl around. As ominous as it is, it is super seductive as it thrives amid the sparse, scorched earth tone of the barren atmosphere. ‘Dhobi Ghat’ is bone-chilling but also utterly captivating.

Listen to ‘Dhobi Ghat’ below:

El Levtchenko – ‘Hopeton Overton’

We were introduced to Brazilian / American pairing El Levtchenko and their lush, sun-kissed and world encompassing sonic distillations earlier in the summer.

El Levtchenko’s sound is magpie like in the best way possible, their compositions borrow from a world of influences; there’s Cuban guitar music, a touch of hip hop, some Middle Eastern and African influences, funk and soul, and a whole lot of beautiful psychedelia. Their latest single is ‘Hopeton Overton’ and like its predecessor ‘Sunday Social’, has a suitably seasonal sound. A sort of a funk and dub fusion, ‘Hopeton Overton’ brings all the good vibes as it slinks and swaggers along a super seductive groove as a guitar chirps, ripples and twangs amid the hazy, dub-esque echoes. It is a catchy, feel good and vibrant jam that will work its way into your psyche and leave you all the better for it.

Check out the sunny delights of ‘Hopeton Overton’ below:

Zun II Zon – ‘Sunset at Dubtown Beach’

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Zun II Zon, are two German musicians Kim and Jan residing in Aarhus, Denmark, who together create what they call ‘Tripical Tribal’; essentially a musical mix of dub, reggae, afro and electro.

Over the past two years the pair have been honing their ‘Tripical Tribal’ style and grafting on their debut record Dubtown Beach, which was released at the start of October. As a taste of what to expect, Zun II Zon have released the record’s lead single, ‘Sunset at Dubtown Beach’. It has a mystical aura, of hazy, burning hot deserts and interstellar intrepid adventures through time and space. An eclectic and colourful blend of downtempo dubby tones and mellow undulations, it shuffles along some clip-clop beats before picking up pace midway through with the introduction of some utterly glorious brass. Welcome to Dubtown Beach – where dark matter and rainbows meet!

Listen to ‘Sunset at Dubtown Beach’ below and if that is to your liking, why not check out the entire record here?

Alternative Halloween Playlist

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Halloween is almost upon us once again, as we get ready to celebrate all things ghoulish, ghostly and chilling, with fireworks and flagons around bonfires.

Every celebration is in need of a good soundtrack and Halloween is no different. And if your in the hunt for some spooky sounds that extend beyond ‘Thriller’, ‘Monster Mash’ and ‘Ghostbusters Theme’? Fear not (or be very afraid) you’re covered with this monstrous four-and-half-hour ‘Alternative Halloween’ Spotify playlist. With lyrics or titles pertaining to Halloween, or some just plain ghostly, dark and creepy; from ‘The Horrors’ to ‘Burial’, ‘Ghost Town’ to ‘The Killing Moon’ and ‘Dead Souls’ to ‘Psycho Killer’ – there is a tidy blend of genres across 60+ tracks.

Plenty here to sink your teeth into. Bone appetit! (Ba dum tss). I’ll go now, the Spotify playlist is below & have a great Halloween!