As I take it easy towards of the end of the year, this will be the final ‘Hive‘ of 2020. Check out some releases I’ve been enjoying this month that I haven’t manage to mention elsewhere…
DUPLOC Selects Chapter Four
The epic ‘DUPLOC Selects‘ project arrived at it’s finale this month with a fourth and final Chapter of the extensive compilation series. Once again DUPLOC curated another stacked collection of ten cutting-edge tracks saturated in energy and vigour. Like a Dubstep melting pot, the leading label presented producers from across the globe throughout each instalment and none more so than this one, treating us to new music from soaring Russian talents Oddkut, Hotcut and Ninety, Belgian bassweight wizards Datra and Beatsforbeaches, Hella and Idioteque representing the UK and DRTY HBTZ repping the United States. There’s also big tunes from REZ, Ghostek and Nova to add to the ten tonne load of scintillating contemporary Dubstep.
Two Rangers – Two Rangers EP (MEDi113)
Already established in their own right, German buddies Bukez Finezt and NGHTDRPS unveiled their Two Rangers project late last year and has continued to impress with their own brand of Grime and Dubstep infusions, particularly with their recent self titled EP on the legendary Deep Medi. Continuing to branch out, Deep Medi rightly put faith into four of Two Rangers‘ dynamic and colourful tunes including the mean, low end laden sounds of ‘Dusty Plasma‘ and the grimey energy of ‘Leng Pon Sirus‘, contributing to one of my favourite releases on the label this year.
Rareman – Tribute / Shibuya Nightz (JUAN003)
Continuing to fly the flag for all things old school and authentic, blog turned label Juan Forte delivered a third must cop release, this time by London’s enigmatic Rareman. Like the two previous releases on Juan Forte, only two anthemic tracks and more superb signature artwork were required for JUAN003 to produce another sell out record, with the latter track ‘Shibuya Nightz‘ having potential to be a future classic.
Oddkut – The Ghastly Grinner / Oblivion (ARTKLD004)
The latter half of 2020 has seen more than a few producers coming to prominence but none more so than Russia’s Oddkut. Also featuring on the previously mentioned ‘Duploc Selects’ album, Oddkut nailed his biggest release yet with a two tracker on the faultless Artikal Music. Artikal has recently shown confidence in the new crop of producers upon releases from Beatsforbeaches and WZ, with Oddkut being the latest to join the growing roster. Whilst ‘Oblivion‘, his collab with Dub Beans, delivered some supercharged bass-weight energy, it’s sister track, ‘The Ghastly Grinner‘, is an absolute face melter. A track that feels like a force of nature, one that harnesses aggression, tension and groove all into one memorable banger.
Gnasha – Contortion EP (FOTO005)
Like Oddkut, Gnasha has also experienced an increase in notoriety towards the tail end of 2020, manifesting a release on the growing and continuingly impressive Foto Sounds. Not only does ‘Contortion‘ EP provide four powerful, dark room bangers, but also a killer vocal track featuring Griz-O, ‘Bunker‘. Throw in the overwhelming low end movement and razor sharp percs of ‘Contortion‘, the moody eastern plucks of ‘Cleo‘ and the crunchy stomper ‘Jitter Dub’, and you’ve got yourself an addictive must cop release!
Teffa – FKxF003
Not much more can be said for Teffa that hasn’t been said already. The guy has had a stellar 2020, enjoying so many releases that I’ve lost count and for my money, producer of the year. But don’t look back and pick out some of your favourites so soon though, he hasn’t finished quite yet. Another release on FatKidOnFire was almost inevitable following FKOFd034 in 2018 and boy did he deliver. Teffa indulges in six spacey sound system creations with enough atmospheric potency to leave you with that bass-driven inebriation. Each cut displays Teffa‘s now familiar genius but for me, the opening ‘Phase One‘ and the following ‘Selassie‘ both produce a warm shiver down my spine every time.
Traces – SCRUB023
Having begun 2020 with an absolute percy of mine on Rarefied (RARE14), London duo Traces end the year in similar fashion, this time blessing the collectable wax of Scrub A Dub. Traces dropped another three of their finest sound system testers for SCRUB023, including the wild wobbles of ‘Nature VIP‘ finding a well deserved home. Matched with the equally ruff ‘n tuff ‘CC‘ and ‘Hear Seh‘ this one is a must cop for the vinyl heads.
Panix – Panix EP (SA013)
Another Londoner refusing to abandon the precious, original sounds of Dubstep is Panix. His latest capsule of bass-driven nostalgia dropped on Substantial Audio and came with all the weight and energy of a classic Coki piece. Filthy wobbles and combative percussion populate the four no-nonsense productions with the dark and aptly named ‘Wobble 96’ particularly cutting through, transforming my headphones into a wearable and thoroughly enjoyable time machine. This sound will never die whilst producers like Panix are still able to create fire like this!
Free Downloads…
MAC – Gangsterdom
Cardi B – I Like It (Mungk Version)
Yoofee – Mazurka
Ivy Lab – Teacup
Check out the Weekly Buzzes and HNYBSS Premieres that featured throughout the month if you missed any.
Infernal Sounds had the pleasure of letting loose two more classics by Cluekid for IFS024. Check it out here.
Brand new label Basskruit delivered an instant second release featuring a new banger by Cubiqle plus four hefty remixes. Check out BSSKRT002 here.
And the final WB of the month went to White Peach‘s 50th release as an imprint, featuring label head honcho Zha appearing on White Peach wax from the first time in five years. Check out ‘Snails‘ EP here.
More HNYBSS Premieres landed on the Soundcloud feed which you can check out here.
Big shouts to all the artists and labels featured on this edition of The Hive and especially to you for taking the time to check out my recommendations! Stay safe and enjoy the music.
– Tom