Outlook Festival 2012 | Fort Punta Christo, Croatia
The minds behind Croatia’s Outlook gathering have self-confidently dubbed their brainchild to be “Europe’s leading bass music and sound system culture festival.” Now this may read as just another self-serving and over-zealous sale’s pitch, but I am happy to inform you that most every bit of zeal in this statement is justified. In fact, through a breif calculation of logic, this proclamation may prove even modest;
If Outlook is indeed the leading bass music and sound-system culture fetsival in Europe, which, from my experience, appears to be quite true, and if Europe is the world’s leading continent in that same category, which, again, I can attest to, then Outlook festival may in fact be the leading bass music and sound system culture festival in the world.
Now, this is a bold statement, so let me begin to tell you why I think so:
First off, the event takes place in, on, and around, an abandoned fortress, which, by my degree of knowledge of 18th Century Mediterranean Architecture, is essentially a castle, and not only is a castle one of the most exciting and appropriate settings that I’ve had the opportunity to indulge in a variety of deep sounds and styles, but acoustically speaking, its almost as if those determined Croates of yesteryear built it expressly for the ideal presentation of contemporary bass music.
Speaking of which, the music was thrilling, utterly so, and I know that I stand risk of sounding like a jittering fan-boy, but today that’s something I may very well be.
So, who was good? Jackmaster , playing his typically eclectic mix of dance music – from Usher to Joy O ; Scuba , proving he that he was worth his steep price-tag; Sepalcure , Plastician , XXXY , Eliphino , Disclosure , and, of course, Skream with Sgt. Pokes , were all a bonafied pleasure to catch. Also making it into this congratulatory category is Kode9 , Loefah , Oneman , Black Acre newcomer, Alby Daniels , Silkie , and Ben UFO ; A tip of the hat to all of them.
Some favorites heard from this category:
Now, who was fantastic?
[Addison Groove]
If I had a crown to give, it’d have to go to Addison Groove . He threw down the most exciting set of the weekend; at the end, mixing from his trade-mark grit-house jams, to a combination of Hudmo ‘s “CBat” and Earl Sweatshirt ‘s “Drop,” and finally into a booty shaking version of The Chordette’s barbershop classic, “ Mr. Sandman ,” of which I have yet to track down. A round of applause is more than in order for Mr. Groove. If he’s coming to a club near you, do not miss out, just go.
Dark Sky rounded off the Black Acre party on Saturday night, and even from outside the fort, one could tell it was the place to be, with a line-up extending easily over 50 meters out the gate. The beats from their Black Rainbows EP sounded ripe and juicy on the Courtyard system.
[Boddika]
The Swamp 81 party was yet another stand-out, with Boddika standing as the personal highlight of the exhibtion, though only just ahead of his more than worthy label mates, Oneman and imprint-boss, Loefah . And since we’re on the topic of dubstep, big ups to Joker for up-staging the DMZ showcase in a big way. Sorry, Mala and Coki , we still love you.
Friday Night at Mungo’s Arena was a breath of fresh for anyone feeling a bit claustrophobic from the prominence of D&B at Outlook. Girl Unit was the highlight of this party. His work on the Club Rez Ep dazzled between the stone walls of the military fort.
Some respect is to be given to trap stalwarts, Baauer and Hudmo , because their numbers, “Harlem Shake,” and “ CBat ,” were springing up dj’s sets of every genre. Same goes to Julio Bashmore for his summer anthem’s of 2011 and 2012; “ Battle For Middle You ,” and “ Au Seve ,” respectively.
So, we’ve run through the good and the grand, but was it a perfect experience? No, of course not. All things are flawed, even the most wonderful.
The major bone I have to pick is with the audience, who whilst being, for the most part, avid fans of these genres, neglected some of the bare necessities of festival etiquette. Muscling belligerently to the front of the bar line was a common activity. Now that I think of it, muscling any where at any time without an excuse me or a patient moment’s wait was standard practice at Outlook. Friends assured me that this was simply the English way of doing things, but I don’t take that as a valid excuse. Thumbs down. Love thy neighbour next time, boys.
The second pickable bone is not necessarily the fault of anyone in particular. It was the simple fact that Mala, Coki, Loefah, and Disclosure, were far from being loud enough at the Harbour stage on Saturday night. The open ocean is no natural amphitheatre. Fortunately, this is where Dimensions Festival comes in.
Opening tonight, Dimensions festival promises an equal if not more impressive line-up of underground artists, an audience of presumably more committed listeners, and lastly, exclusive use of the Fort stages, which means, better sound and smaller venues for bigger artists. Let’s hope it lives up to these other-worldly expectations.
Outlook , thank you. It was a blessing to be a part of. Considering the legend of setting and sound that your team has etched into bass-music’s youthful history, the title of world’s leading bass music and sound system culture festival is yours to loose. Now, to see what your little brother is packing…
See you next year,
sam.i.am
Robot Koch & Kuhn | Sludge
The Red Bull Music Academy tossed this one out today; an exclusive download from ’99 participant, Robot Koch , and the relative new comer, Kuhn . Though the track does stick to each producer’s respective tendency toward the experimental big-beat, it also flirts with both trap and dubstep genres, quite successfully I might add, through its respective use of MPC-swinged hats and a collection of bass tones that are uncharacteristically “deep” for either artist.
“Sludge” is just a taste of Berliner, Robot Koch ‘s forthcoming “ Cosmic Wave’s 2×10 ” EP, out on Project Mooncircle , August 31st.
sam.i.am
Perverse | IMR001
Auckland duo Perverse have announced their most sinister release to date. Teaming up with the Hench camp’s Beezy , this EP takes the listener into their most twisted and exploratory approach at dubstep yet. From the spacious and lurking feeling of “Cross Examination” to the almost stress inducing shuffle of “Obsidian”, Perverse have most certainly raised the bar with this one.
Baron Samedi
Minnesota | Astral Projection Mix
This week Minnesota and Paper Diamond embark on their Tiger Style Tour 2012 ( Elm&Oak ), and to whet our appetites, Christian Bauhofer has sewn together a slew of original tracks off his forthcoming record – anticipated through MalLabel .
The synth work on these forthcoming tracks seem to be where Minnesota has crafted his niche. These shine with an illuminated lustre – inspiring and full of vitality. A common practice of the artist includes integrating samples of metaphysical discussion, which induce feelings of the numinous.
Minnesota – Relax (Forthcoming Release)
Notorious B.I.G. – Gimme The Loot (Minnesota Remix)
Minnesota – Purple Daze
Minnesota – To The Floor (Forthcoming Release)
Minnesota – Stay Strong (Forthcoming Release)
Modeseleketor- Let Your Love Grow (Minnesota Remix)
Minnesota – Astral Projection (Forthcoming Release)
See Previously: Minnesota
Astral Projection Mix – Minnesota
Wala
x
Shredexx | Just For You
With constant support from such heavyweights as N-Type and Distance , Shredexx has achieved a modicum of success that is no less than well deserved. The unique movement between bass lines and dungeon-like atmosphere of his tracks sets him apart from other producers of his craft, as is demonstrated in Transporta :
In celebration of reaching 500 fans on his facebook page, Shredexx has decided to give us this aptly named tune.
In Death,
Baron Samedi
Lurka | Blank
For those who have been keeping their ear to the deeper and darker side of dubstep, the name Lurka seems synonymous with quality over quantity. The 22 year old producer from the South West (UK) shows a level of restraint and maturity in his productions that one would identify with much older, more experienced artists. This very trait may have been the reason behind not only the signing to Black Box Records in the beginning of 2011, but also the continued dj support of Youngsta himself.
Lurka has graciously given away the lossless audio file to one of his most organic tunes, Blank. The combination of an extremely rich mixdown, warm percussion, and a concrete call and answer between bass lines make this track feel as if it were made of many individual living parts, all working together to achieve locomotion. A must have for any audiophile.
Blank – Lurka [wav]
In Death,
Baron Samedi
Swindle | Ignition
Swindle is a creative and talented dubstep producer crafting his sounds out of East London, UK. The “Ignition EP” was dropped in late January off of his own label, “ Swindle Productions .” The Ep features two high quality instrumentals and one superior track titled after the EP, Ignition . Combining sounds from the grime veteran Footsie , the delicate vocals of Nadia Suliman , and his own characteristic reverberations, the single, Ignition, is the full package.
Ignition [feat. Footsie & Nadia Suliman] [recommended]
Ignition Feat. Footsie & Nadia Suliman by swindleuk
If you are in to more of a chaotic and powerful sound, I suggest you check out the rest of Swindle’s EP here , available for purchase.
Atom
Africa Hitech | 11.24.11
Late last night at the Drake Underground in Toronto, Africa Hitech changed the world. The vibe was set by My Man Henri and the stage was seamlessly traded off to the Warp Records duo who initially kept it cool with some classic dub and African beats.
The clip drops you in at the moment of transition, right as their set takes off into the realm of the unexpected. You will be pleased by the stunning vocal work of Steve Spacek while Mark Pritchard gracefully refines the amplified sound of spinning wax. Praised as “casually killing it” by the Colorado Daily, they have each been producing for 20-odd years and are now touring to celebrate their newest release 93 Million Miles . Sit back and enjoy.
Here are some tracks from last night’s setlist:
My Trance Girl – Joker [recommended]
Better Than (Lorn Remix) – Jammer [recommended]
TV
Thefft | Inna Da
Jack Robinson is
Thefft
. There isn’t much to say about him because he only has two releases; however, within two releases he has found a signature sound that works. This particular track opens with a house-like atmosphere, and closes with more of a broken hip hop beat. Industrial synths are featured throughout with snappy staccato on the high end.
Play this track tonight wherever you may be. The variances in tempo will have ‘em up on their feet in no time.
┴
Requake | Frequake + VIP
We are making a double feature out of this release because it’s so fucking sexy. If you hadn’t heard, Requake of Brussels, Belgium, dropped the Frequake EP a few days ago, free of charge, as the name suggests. The duo has been doing wondrous things as of late that have been resonating heavily in the hearts of many classical dubstep connoisseurs.
Clear practitioners of the ‘less is more’ approach, their tracks are stripped down to perfection; free of unnecessary layers. Requake’s beats are the perfect juxtaposition between warm natural transients and an encompassing cool, hollow atmosphere. Requake is always brilliantly mastered and easy to listen to over and over again.
Frequake EP: [recommended]
Also fresh off the dub press are two Requake ‘re-works’.
Be sure to check out collaborations between Badklaat and Requake, a coalition of two of the deepest names on the scene. Now cringe with delight.
Stay gold,
┴
Minnesota
Hailing from Santa Cruz, California, Christian Bauhofer, also known as Minnesota , is taking the Glitch Dubstep scene by storm. His music is nowhere near the careless manipulation of bro-step bass that so many of us have grown weary of. What initially attracted and ultimately ensured my unwavering dedication to this producer is his signature harmonization of diligent synth melodies paired with heavy hitting waves of glitch-infused bass.
2011 is Christian’s year. In the last 12 months he has provided us with almost 40 releases. In addition to the numerous singles and remixes, accessible on his SoundCloud , Minnesota teamed up with Purple producer MartyParty and under the moniker DeathStar the duo released their Ultraviolet Halo EP, a perfect marriage of distinct electronic voices. Only a month later Bauhofer released his Ancient Machines EP on MalLabe l, a three-track collection of fantastic finesse.
On the 30 th of September Christian issued another track, a remix of Shotgun Radio’s “A Bad Place” featuring the mesmerizing vocals of Mimi Page. Although a deviation from his heavier glitch style, this soft-spoken track is uplifting and elegant, a pleasant change of scenery.
Breaking through the mind-numbing mold perpetuated by countless bass maniacs, I believe Minnesota has the capacity to re-inspire a love for Dubstep so many of us are hungry for.
A Bad Place feat. Mimi Page (Minnesota Remix) – Shotgun Radio [forthcoming]
California Dreaming (Minnesota Remix) – The Mamas and the Papas
Money Talks – DeathStar [recommended]
Wala
x
BadKlaat | [self-titled] EP
The definition of a “Sub Pusha”. One to watch, Adam James of Gloucester [AKA
BadKlaat]
is quick on the rise. His latest EP release is
self-titled
but he has been doing his most recent work in cahoots with
ReQuake.
The thing that sets BadKlaat apart is the rhythmic intricacies that accompany rich and hollow undulations.
Given the layered nature of these tracks the inherent dynamics are often overlooked. “No one uses sounds like him, and when they try its an apparent foul” says SubAntix, a huge fan and fellow protégé/producer. Listen close, and be prepared to fall in love.
I give you BadKlaat .
Aku – BadKlaat [recommended]
R U Mad – BadKlaat [recommended]
T
Funtcase | M.O.D. VIP
[oy. you been paintin' my shop?]
An instant classic, revamped by FuntCase himself in this putrid variation. Made my day.
Make Our Day VIP – FuntCase [recommended]
Fuck Ye.
T
March Bass Madness MTL | NiT GriT . Wolfey . Reso . Genetix . Mat The Alien . Bare Noize
This month in Montreal will set the standard for events with low-lighting, low-to-the-floor dancing, and forever populated by your fellow low-lifers. Not only will the crowd be crawling with us low-lifes, but our very own LL commander and chief, WOLFEY, will be providing the soundtrack during the opening slot for NiT GriT. So roll early. Big ups Wolfey.
Club Empire 22:00| Friday, March 4th is the day | $15 is what you pay… unless you get yours before.. the day.
If you’ve been with us for a while you will remember NiT GriT’s original and captivating wobbles. If not type that shit into your itunes search bar or our ‘search the stacks’ feature and be reminded of how much you will give to be at this show.
On that note we turn to Wolfey. Offering local support as a fresh DJ to the montreal scene; he is no stranger to the tables. Be sure to check out his latest Bootleg Mix here , if you haven’t already. The last words I exchanged with him were about the acquisition of vinyl tables and the upcoming Skream show. Yea, I could go on about how he’s a lone wolf, raised by wolves.. better to get it out of the way.. but the fact of the matter is, it’s his fucking name and he will be bringing the numbers that will not stop until long after the morning light. That’s us. Yours truly, the low-life crew.
Event Details can be found here .
Don’t miss out on these two or be as perturbed about your well-being as if you stole a kilo from the mob.
You better get your rest this week because the following night, March 5th, Bouddha Slinky is hosting Reso , Genetix, and Mat the Alien! Location TBA. The madness doesn’t seem to be letting up. This is another one you won’t want to miss.
Event details here .
It truly is Bass Madness out here in MTL with all these heavyweights gracing our lawless city. And on the evening of the ninth day Bare Noize is planning to tear up le Belmont, courtesy of Bouddha Slinky once again. Details can be found here .
I expect to see all of you at each of these shows. Bring your paint, bring your mask, the madness ensues.
Bitches love stitches,
RadarT