Now that Dubstep has been embraced on dance floors in the far reaches of the globe, the fledgling genre has reached that inevitable stage when it branches out into sub-genres. From the thrashing mid-bass grind of Brostep, to the upbeat electro-party pop of Ravestep, to the meditative minimalism of the Deepstep sound, Dubstep is maturing into her teen years. As Mark N-Type succinctly put it – the genre “has balanced and evened out”.

Raining In the Streets - DFRNT

Although there is merit with each of the emerging sub-genres, I am most intrigued by the yet-to-be-classified left field minimalism of James Blake, Joy Orbison, and Untold. This is why I was so excited to stumble upon the sound of cutting edge Scottish producer, DFRNT. I was even more surprised to learn that DFRNT is also writes the fantastic Sitting Ovation blog. Upon hearing DFRNT’s mix for Mary Anne Hobbs’ Breezeblock show on November 12, 2009, I sat in awe, listening to the depth of his production. And music is only the tip of the iceberg in DFRNT’s basin of brilliance.

Mammoth - DFRNT

DFRNT also runs the Echodub Label and Collective, and is the editor of Modus Magazine. At a mere 26 years old, DFRNT exhibits talents well beyond his years – and has not gone unnoticed. He has seen support from seen support
from many of the world’s top Dubstep producers and DJs, from heavier hitters like N-Type, Baobinga and
Headhunter, to deeper selectors such as Synkro, Scuba and even “dub-techno don”, Quantec. With his debut, Metafiction, DFRNT dove head first into the abyss of Dubstep’s deepest levels; with massive remixes from Scuba, Ital Tek, Quantec, Synkro, Indigo and DJ Madd.

Walking Alone - DFRNT

I am proud to share with you DFRT’s Guest Mix for Radio Magnetic, the promo mix for Metafiction (see below), as well as a handful of FREE tracks!! DFRNT will be in the U.S. from March until (hopefully) May of this year; U.S. promoters interested in booking a DFRNT performance, send your request here. Be sure to check out his Myspace for tour dates.

Metafiction Promo Mix - DFRNT
Track List:
1. 01 DFRNT – Wake Up
2. 02 DFRNT – The Warmest
3. 03 DFRNT – Tripped
4. 04 DFRNT – Therapy
5. 05 DFRNT – Landscapes
6. 06 DFRNT – Epitome
7. 07 DFRNT – The Next Step
8. 08 DFRNT – Dark Jazz
9. 09 DFRNT – Aftermath
10. 10 DFRNT – Winter
11. 11 DFRNT – Decay
12. 12 DFRNT – Headspace
13. 13 DFRNT – Lounge
14. 14 DFRNT – Sound Asleep

Valley of Shadow (DFRNT Remix) - Origin Unknown
Hip Hop (DFRNT Remix) - Dead Prez
Frequency (DFRNT Remix) - Altern 8

Simon Green aka Bonobo returns with one of the key cuts from his forthcoming album, “Black Sands”. Drawing as much on the rhythms of two-step as the lush soundscapes for which he’s best known, “Eyesdown” also features a remarkable vocal from Andreya Triana and enough fuzzed-out sub-bass for a binful of dubsteppers. Classic and contemporary, melancholy and exhilarating all at once, “Eyesdown” sounds like the kind of record Massive Attack could be making if they were starting out now.

Eyes Down (Warrior One Remix) - Bonobo

Remix duties are taken care of by Floating Points and Warrior One, Appleblim & Komonazmu. The single – “Eyesdown” – will be out 03/08/10 on Ninja Tune, and the album – “Black Sands” – will be out on 03/29/10.

Pre-order here

I have always found the best music to listen to whilst trudging through beating winds and towers of snow is MOGWAI. Though one of my “life changing” artists, I hardly ever listen to Scottland’s finest in the summer. Rather, the beating pellets of snow and ice are damn near comforting so long as the sonic boom of anything in Mogwai’s canon erupts from my iPod. They have gotten me through more snow storms than a pair of waterproof Doc Martin’s and sustained me when my car tires, screaching themselves bald on iced streets, have quit. It was the winter of 1998 when I first heard Young Team’s “Like Herod” and that record has remained a staple for the subsequent 12 winters.

As the whole of the Mid-Atlantic trembles beneath a shadow of snow, it seems appropriate to share with all of you the sound of a group of artists who transcended being a “band” to becoming a movement. If you don’t already have them, download these songs; if you do already have them, go get them, put them on your iPods, in your CD players or other portable audio devices and go for a walk in a snow storm.

2 Wrongs Make 1 Right
Like Herod
I'm Jim Morrison and I'm Dead
O I Sleep
Killing All The Flies
Kids Will Be Skeletons
Small Children In The Background
Mogwai Fear Satan (Live At All Tomorrow's Parties NY, September 2008)

BONUS
Death Bells (Mogwai Remix) - Soul Savers

Tracklist:
Omen Reprise
Take Me To The Hospital
Funky Shit
Get Up Get Off
Phoenix
Breathe
Warrior’s Dance (Kicks Like A Mule Remix)
Climbatize
Android
Everybody In The Place (Original)
What Evil Lurks
Thunder
We Gonna Rock
Smack My Bitch Up
Your Love
Break And Enter
Invaders Must Die
Fire (Sunrise Version)
Jericho
Omen
Skylined
World’s On Fire
Firestarter
No Good (Start The Dance)
Speedway
Charly (Trip Into Drum And Bass Version)
We Are The Ruffest
Wind It Up
Out Of Space
Voodoo People
Hyperspeed (G-Force Part 2)
Claustrophobic Sting
Heat
Full Throttle
Everybody In The Place (155 And Rising)

Scion, makers of the world’s most comfortable socks and distributor of excellent dance music compilations, highlights premiere London-based label Dub Police. Since forming in 2004 Dub Police has risen to become one of the most well respected Dubstep labels in the planet, its artists traveling the globe regularly, bringing the heaviest new sounds from the UK to devoted fans worldwide. Turn up the low end on the system and get ready to step to the massive sounds of the Dub Police crew…

Although all of these tracks are standouts, I wanted to share of my personal favorites. I’ve listed them in descending order, from my absolute favorite on down. Be sure to grab your own copy of the sampler – TRUST ME!!

-Kellz

DISTINCTION - Bionic Bug
Clever use of synths emulate the sound of insect wings swarming in the distance while more immediate sounds pan across the stereo field to get you instinctively swatting the air for digital mosquitoes. These effects, underpinned by a giant splash of a snare and sub-rumble of a bassline make this tune a winning experiment in the vast reach of the modern synth. Hands down, my favorite track of the collection; it sounds like a riot stomping out of the speakers!!

TROLLEY SNATCHA - Slow Down
An ominous minor key string loop opens this heavy piece and sets the tone for this lumbering giant. A slow motion dirge whose bass is as heavy as its mood. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

SUBSCAPE - Dominant Species
An incredibly aggressive bassline reminiscent of the late 90’s drum and bass sound drives relentlessly throughout.

THE OTHERS - Quantum Leap
Serious bass odyssey here ya’ll. Once the theme is established at the top, it’s play time. The Others run the gamut here, playing with call and response ideas, basstones, and breakdowns.

D1 - BRB
Situated a bit more on the modern electro side of things, this up-tempo club rocker repeats and tweaks an ascending synth line over a four-on-the-floor kick to great effect. Still, the persistence of the hi-hat and clap patterns ground this track in the Dubstep world as well.

DUBWOOFA - 7am Ghost
Dubwoofa creates a hauntingly minimal vibe with lush synth pads and a drum pattern that is both sparse and incredibly tense. A deft marriage of the texturally ambient and rhythmically aggressive.

The collection also features Caspa, Emalkay, Matty G, Unitz, Orien, LD, J Kenzo, and L-Wiz.