Isaiah On Fire

PASTURES NEW

2010-07-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

It's been close to 5 months since I last posted, and I must confess I had very little intention of doing so again. Whilst claiming I had stopped doing so out of concern for the new copyright laws which could restrict the blogging of mp3's, this was coincidental to the more fundamental feeling that I didn't feel I had much motivation left to post what I was posting. My sudden decision to write today was caused by hearing a song I really wanted everyone to hear. Thus came the realisation that I had been trying to post things that I thought most people would like rather than those I genuinely thought were good, or that at least had some relevance to an overall point about music. From this point on I will be trying to write mindful of the mantra that you should always write for yourself, and while this may result in my occasionally sounding intolerably smug and tragically keen to seem arty, it should at least mean I have the drive to write more regularly about more important things, not necessarily restricted to a particular genre or trend or even music in general.

Boring and self-absorbed introductions aside, time for the music itself. When I started writing we were all riding on the crest of the wave of dubstep which was sweeping the UK at the time. It was new and interesting but, even better, was still evolving. The two principle directions in which the genre has gone since then have sadly not maintained my enthusiasm. Now, don't get me wrong, there is still a lot of clever and innovative stuff being produced, but it is becoming ever more difficult to find in the inconceivably huge cesspit that the scene as a whole has become. And I don't use the word cesspit without consideration; any inspection of the comments on youtube dubstep videos reveals a fanbase with an inexplicable penchant for shit, blood and incest in equal measure. As is so typical of the British attitude towards music, we have seized on one successful element, the 'dirty' wobble aspect of the genre, and gorged ourselves on it until our livers have finally exploded leaving some hideous dubstep pate. And many of those that haven't joined the descent into gratuitous filth have gone down the popstep line, which I find far less irritating, but just as pointless and inconsequential as most other stuff permeating the charts. Attempting to market dubstep to this wider audience has also led to the rise of people who know nothing about music developing a misconceived genre allegiance, shouting 'dubstep!' upon hearing any song at all with a bassline. This causes an awful lot of unnecessary aggravation. I must stress that my faith in dubstep has not completely died, and I will make sure that I post some soon to prove it, but overall I have been much in need of a comparitively minimalistic and clean antidote: nothing could epitomise this more than the productions of Nicolas Jaar.

Jaar is a musical prodigy in a way I don't think I've ever seen before except in classical performances. Born in Chile, he was inspired by the unique creations of fellow countryman Ricardo Villalobos in his early teens, and has since the age of 15 been producing his own brand of electronic music entirely unfettered by the restrictions of genre pigeon holing. Currently being released on the refreshingly laid back New York label Wolf & Lamb his productions have a sense of purity in their groove that is a perfect antidote to the aforementioned filth. Lie back and dissolve:

Nicolas Jaar - Time For Us
Nicolas Jaar - Marks
No Regular Play - Owe Me (Nicolas Jaar Remix)

GET A BIT MORE

2010-02-15T10:56:00.000-08:00

Huge remix of Foreign Beggars here from Skism, personally I find the more lyrics are included the better with Foreign Beggars remixes, which means I think I prefer this to the Excision remix of No Holds Barred, but both are worth buying. Check it out

DONUT

2010-02-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

February sees the arrival of a new remix package of M.A.N.D.Y and Booka Shade's follow up to the seminal Body Language - their latest collaboration, Donut. The package includes techno remixes from James Talk and Gui Boratto both of which are certainly worth listening to, but for me the pick of the bunch is the Boy 8 Bit remix. Once again he opts for a slow building and thoughtful work which pays little attention to any genre pigeon holing and climbs to a jumpy dancefloor climax after about 4 minutes. It feels an infinitely more satisfying track than the highly successful Drumming Song remix, a sign which means this will probably me a firm fixture on most people's laptops before long. Get the reduced bitrate version below, or go ahead and buy the whole remix package; it certainly seems a worthy investment. Additionally here's Logistics' contribution; their usual liquid drum and bass fare has not lost any of its effect, and I can see this remix being very multi-purpose - equally good as background or party music.

M.A.N.D.Y and Booka Shade - Donut (Boy 8 Bit Remix)
M.A.N.D.Y and Booka Shade - Donut (Logistics Remix)

CLUNGE

2010-01-24T13:29:00.000-08:00

Uni exams are finally over, and fingers crossed there won't be anything academic requiring strict undivided attention from now until the summer term. Having had a think about it I'm intending to give this page a revamp as soon as I can meet up with someone with the necessary computer literacy, and rest assured posts will be far more regular from now on. 2010 appears to be hotting up already with some exciting January releases. First up here is Sduk's latest production, the man behind the Emalkay remix which caused some ripples in the latter stages of last year. If you'll ignore the inexplicably crude title (although I've also made it the title of the post through wanton attention seeking) you'll find a classy and original piece of dubstep, embodying some of the higher 'Purple' synths that we've come to associate with Joker and co, the force of which is enhanced by the shuddering no-frills bassline. Show some support and buy this one in 320.

Sduk - Clunge (160 kbps)

Nick Supply is a fidget specialist, and this new track, judging by the title, seems to be his take on dubstep. It's not the most original production I've heard, but as with the fidget he is generally associated with, its success is to be judged in terms of its practical application, which we'll all agree is success on a night out. Even if purely for the Requiem For A Dream sample, I think I'd find myself getting very over excited over this if I heard it live, and for those of you who call a fun Saturday afternoon watching the entirety of Sky Sports Soccer Saturday with this permanently on in the background, you'll probably jizz all over the dancefloor.

Nick Supply - Requiem For A Dub

Be sure to check back soon, this is a short post to get back into the swing of things, and there will be much more to come. Enjoy

CONSISTENTLY FLUXING

2010-01-07T06:35:00.000-08:00

I'm keeping a keen eye on anything Circus Records are announcing at the moment. They seem to be assembling some sort of Lord of the Rings style army of producers with a view to causing widespread damage during 2010. If the forthcoming releases are anything to go by, noone will be offering much resistance. Leading the way is Flux Pavilion, who's been killing it with everything he's been involved in lately (go check out How Rude as well as the tracks below). Above is Got 2 Know, just announced as being intended for release in March with Normalize on the flipside. Big. Digital Controller is not as hectic as some of his other tunes but successfully combines melody with a squelchy bassline. Get the reduced bitrate version below. And although Ignition has been around for a while I've only just got hold of a decent quality version. Make sure you buy it, but have a quick listen to this download first on decent speakers. Creates complete chaos on the dancefloor.

Flux Pavilion - Digital Controller (192kbps)
Downlink - Ignition

NETSKY DOES FIDGET

2010-01-06T07:54:00.000-08:00

For those who found my snow related comments in the last post cynical, I now definitely feel vindicated. However, its almost time to return North for the new term, and despite the prospect of exams for which I am thoroughly unprepared I am definitely excited about being back in the city environment, so some upbeat music seems in order. There has been a mass exodus of DnB producers trying their hands at house this year, most notably Zinc with his Crack House EP, but very little of it has been in the fidget mould, which is why I was so surprised to see this clip from Netsky and Murdoch. No sign of any official release date yet, but perhaps a sign of things to come. Additionally, check the reduced bitrate download of Subfocus' own fidget track, one of my picks from their superb album, below.

Subfocus - Move Higher (189kbps)

PARIAH

2009-12-30T08:19:00.000-08:00

All Christmas related activites have finally come to end, snow has been officially declared a massive pain in the arse, and reality returns for all. This post can either be taken as calm before the storm material for those of you that splashed out for big nights tomorrow, or for those of you who got it all wrong and are doing nothing or didnt get invited anywhere it might level you out enough to stop any wrist slitting at midnight. I was toying with which of the recent Pariah remixes to put up but have decided to go with all three. Whilst each has its own individual and specific feel, they are all haunting yet dreamily beautiful. The remix of The XX, in particular, has that Burial-esque atmosphere of finding yourself walking deserted urban streets in the rain in the early hours of the morning. All 3 definitely worth a listen.

The XX - Basic Space (Pariah Remix) (192kbps)
Bombay Bicycle Club - Always Like This (Pariah Remix) (128kbps)
Ellie Goulding - Under The Sheets (Pariah Remix)

MIX AND MATCH

2009-12-15T07:15:00.000-08:00

First track of this post is going to stick out like a sore thumb but I haven't got anything that fits very well with it that I want to put up too. Bar 9 comes back with yet another tune that will smash you straight out of the ballpark. He consistently produces massive tracks that roll along so well, all the while bellowing deeply offensive insults in your ears. I find the 'loads of cheese' vocal sample inexplicably funny too. Right at the other end of the spectrum come the efforts of Max Cooper and Voodeux. Ideal minimalistic tracks for the late afterparty environment, Cooper's remix of Extrawelt drips all over you, and has a strangely warm feel to it, whilst Voodeux's leaves you floating around in a strange and wonderful techy dreamworld.

Foreign Beggars - Seven Figure Swagger (Bar 9 Remix)
Extrawelt - Mit Liese Auf Der Wiese (Max Cooper Remix)
Voodeux - Just A Spoonful

BRACKLES

2009-12-12T11:46:00.000-08:00

After a full 24 hours of countryside life I've already passed through the physically cleansing stage into the bored stage, so a second post for today. Captivated as I am by the dulcet tones of everyones favourite mare Stacey Solomon in the background, I'm staying focused on this Brackles track for the time being. Having heard his excellent remix of Mstrkrft a couple of weeks back, which seemed to fit well with the relaxed 2-steppy variety of music which I've been enjoying so much of late, I was very excited to see this one turn up. Every man and his dog has had a crack at remixing the Crystal Fighters latest offering, but this is definitely my favourite. Jinder provide excellent remix material in general, but that takes nothing away from the excellence of this 12th Planet and Flinch's rework, which combines a melodic bassline and vocal with some penetrating synths on the drops. Lovely.

Crystal Fighters - I Love London (Brackles Remix)
Jinder - Youth Blood (12th Planet and Flinch Remix)

DIGITAL MEMORIES

2009-12-12T07:26:00.000-08:00

I meant to make this post this time last week, but the inescapable end of term frivolities ensured that my daytimes have been spent looking and feeling like a vandalised scarecrow. Now back and home and with a dangerous amount of time on my hands, so time for an update. Last weekend I went up to Newcastle to see the legendary gleaming German that is Sven Vath in action. Now I don't pretend to know a particularly large amount about techno, but after one of the best nights I've had in a while I will certainly be learning. These two tracks were the two I remember most clearly from the night, and thankfully were also caught on video by a friend so I could get their names. The first contains some excitable trumpet work, and kept the crowd bouncing around with its powerfully buoyant bassline. The second is a fair bit darker, the first half of the song you just feel that something big is coming. Then in the second half it does. Again and again and again. It hits you with a series of big build ups and drops. I haven't seen a dancefloor get quite so blown apart in a while.

Die Vogel - Blaue Moschee
Dustin Zahn - Stranger to Stability (Len Faki Remix)

CIRCUS

2009-12-03T11:39:00.000-08:00

Circus Records, joint run by Doctor P, who I have previously posted here, have really exploded on the dubstep scene in a big way recently. Doctor P and Flux Pavilion in particular seem to have mastered blending some catchy, even melodic, hooks up in the treble section, without losing any of the primitve madness down in the bass. Their trakcs maintain that huge impetus, which you can never really explain, to get a crowd moving without due care and attention. This one has been getting played all over the place lately, definitely worth a download if you haven't already. Additionally, this remix from Boson definitely has that same quality about it, didn't know much about this guy before and seems to be worth keeping an eye on.

Doctor P - Badman Sound
Genuwine - Pony (Boson Remix)

GET HYPE

2009-11-30T09:52:00.000-08:00

Having posted a couple of Jeuce remixes a few weeks back, I've been eagerly waiting to see the first moves of the newly formed Get Hype Collective, which they make up alongside Toast, Sharkbait (Yoghurt Warrior Clothing), Pond Life and Dave Verne. An exciting prospect indeed, and they've released a mixtape to give us a taste of things to come in the future. This was Don't Stay In's Mix of the Week last week, download it here and be sure to check out their individual pages.

Get Hype Collective - Get Hype Volume 1

LOVE CRY....

2009-11-26T10:12:00.000-08:00

Another apology for another extended absence, my laptop has been out of action and so barring the occasional late night borrowing of a friend's I've been unusally absent from the internet. I've returned to find a wide variety of good new stuff floating around, so expect much more regular posts in weeks to come. To ease you back in, I'll start with one of the best tracks I've heard in a long time. Joy Orbison has been riding on the crest of the wave that ambient 2-step dubstep has been creating in the second half of this year, and for good reason. He really blew up with the release of Hyph Mngo a few months back, garnering support from all the big names, but in my opinion this remix blows it out of the water. Four Tet's original is a masterpiece but this is just so sublimely dreamy and optimistic. It has a great initial impact and it only seems to grow. Excuse the introduction from Four Tet at the start, the full vervsion will have to be bought! In a similar vein is this release from Darkstar, who seems to be really at home with this sort of sound. If you're ever feeling stressed, here's your medicine.

Four Tet - Love Cry (Joy Orbison Remix)
Darkstar - Aidy's Girl's A Computer

MT EDEN

2009-11-09T06:57:00.001-08:00

Apologies for the recent lack of posts, I was ill for most of last week (naturally claimed swine flu for attention seeking purposes) and was far too busy feeling sorry for myself. After a pretty successful comeback weekend I find myself utterly knackered again at the start of this week, and these tracks reflect that. I was pretty slow on the uptake with Kiwi producer Mt Eden, only discovering him through his track Sierra Leone (get it below) through a friend a few weeks back. Further investigation has shown him to be making some of the most relaxing and mellow dubstep around. I'm not one to jump on the genre-naming bandwagon and call it liquid-step but its undeniably ambient, and a far cry from the frenzied stuff currently saturating the scene. You'll be equally content lying in bed to it as you would be listening to it on a night out. These are my three favourites:

Mt Eden - Sierra Leone
Mt Eden - Beautiful Lies
Mt Eden - I'll Be There For You

CONTACT

2009-10-29T06:43:00.000-07:00

Foreign Beggars have long been one of my favourite acts in UK hip hop, yet somehow I managed to miss the launch of their new Contact EP, out now on Dented Records. Some of these tracks were produced by drum and bass trio Noisia, including the title track Contact. They've added some rumbling bass to Foreign Beggars adrenaline charged lyrics, it's a beast of a track, get the 192 here. Noisia have also remixed the same track they produced, and what you lose in verbal flow you more than get back with synthy mayhem. The bass flails around like its out of control, you won't know where you are.

Foreign Beggars ft. Noisia - Contact (192kbps)
Foreign Beggars ft. Noisia - Contact (Noisia Remix

SWEET TOOTH?

2009-10-28T11:47:00.000-07:00

Just a quick one here. I've just got hold of the full length version of this monster from Doctor P courtesy of Circus Records. A misleading old school housey intro drops heavily into some growling bass and a sinister melody, nothing sweet about this. All I can picture is a paedophile Willy Wonka.

Doctor P - Sweet Shop

In no way connected but I just fancy putting this one up too cos it's grown on me so massively since I first heard it. L-Vis 1990 show some serious imagination with their remix, which is barely recognisable as Gucci Vump's Yiddish original. So relaxing you can't help but melt into it. More great stuff coming out of Sound Pelligrino. If you like this 192 go buy the full quality one.

Gucci Vump - Sha! Shtil! (L-Vis 1990 Remix) (192kbps)

Jeuce

2009-10-27T10:58:00.000-07:00

Leeds based up and comers Jeuce are going from strength to strength, with tracks that switch seamlessly between electro and dubstep. These latest two productions are the best I've heard from them, very well constructed with some nice vocals, and extremely dancefloor friendly. Keep an eye on these guys, both as they are and as part of the new Get Hype Collective, along with Toast and Shark Bait.

Robot Disaster - Boy (Jeuce Remix)
Ellie Goulding - Under the Sheets (Jeuce Remix)

Zed's Dead chops up some pretty vocals with some seriously primitive sounds here, with what sounds like an angry robotic frog on bass duties. Definitely worth a look. If you're after some background bedroom music though I definitely wouldn't bother with this last one. You'll need to turn the sub up to get a good idea of what this would do on a dancefloor, but as usual US dubsteppers Excision and Datsik deliver a track that will leave you feeling violated. If you're after something to go properly spastic to, you've got it.

Blue Foundation - Eyes on Fire (Zed's Dead Remix)
Excision & Datsik - Swagga

IN THE BEGINNING...

2009-10-20T05:52:00.000-07:00

GSince this is my first post it doesn't seem that useful to just whack up a couple of tunes that have caught my eye over the last few days. Instead, thought it'd be a good idea to post a few tunes that I enjoyed over the summer, over a variety of genres. That'll give you an idea of what to expect in the future, and you'll know whether you'll be back again or off to find some better taste.

First up is a massive tune courtesy of up and coming dubstepper Cragga which I stumbled across on InspectorDubplates YouTube account (highly recommended). He takes the Marvelettes original and gives Motown something its never seen before. The drop is seriously unexpected and guaranteed to get you moving and singing in equal measure.

Cragga - Mr. Postman

George Lenton has been growing ever larger on the radar over the last few month, and this one will make you take notice. Beginning with a political vocal sample that sweats passionate aggression, it eventually drops into some brutal, angry, dubstep synthwork.

George Lenton - Troll

At almost the polar opposite end of the spectrum we have this latest release from Claude Von Stroke. Once again demonstrating his mastery of tech-house, the constantly changing texture of the vocals holds your attention, and the organ-like quality of the sound gives it a spiritual feel that will leave you floating.

Claude Von Stroke - Vocal Chords

This remix of Borgore by 16 bit contains a shedload of his characteristic growling bass, but this coupled with the vocals and rhythm of the original feels a lot less disjointed than some of his other work in the Chainsaw Calligraphy mould, and consequently ends up a lot more dancefloor friendly.

Borgore - Fuck Hoes (16 Bit Remix)

This latest remix of Chromeo comes courtesy of Skream and takes dubstep on to yet new pastures by making it undeniably sexy. This one has come in for a bit of a slating from some groups of fans for being too lyrical and melodic, but it is important to remember that the term dubstep primarily refers to a beat pattern, and is not necessarily synonymous with aggressive, testosterone charged music. The sort that will dismiss this on those grounds are the same sort that would claim they can't cross their legs because their massive dick gets in the way.

Chromeo - Night by Night (Skream Remix)

Boy 8 Bit is a master of production and innovation, and I would argue one of the most creative men around. I eagerly anticipated the release of this EP for a long time, and this is in my opinion the best track from it. A meandering ice cream van sample lures you into a magical sense of security before dropping you back down to the dancefloor leaving you mimicking the bounce of its bassline.

Boy 8 Bit - Baltic Pine

Netsky has been producing some beautiful, rolling, liquid drum and bass for some time now, and it seems only a matter of time before he breaks through properly and joins Logistics and company in the top ranks. There are plenty more where this came from, and almost all are worth checking out.

Netsky - Your Way (128kbps)

The clue's in the title for the tone of this latest tune from Ed Solo. Imposing Egyptian sounds of imminent war surround you before progressing into some deep, ominous and moody dubstep.

Ed Solo - Egyptian Horns

As this post shows, my taste of late has coincided with the general shift towards more bass heavy sounds and dubstep in particular, but it wouldn't be right for me to neglect my house roots. Mightyfools offer a nice compromise between the two, producing some great tracks, with devastating blasting basslines that will rival anything in terms of dancefloor destruction.

Kelevra - Love You So (Mightyfools Remix)

Hopefully that has given a decent idea of what you're going to be seeing here in the future in terms of genre. Bear in mind the bitrate of two of these downloads are reduced as they are for promotional purposes and not intended for live performance. If you like the artists make sure they can afford to stay in the business and buy their tunes at the usual online stores. If bitrates not mentioned they're 320's. Check back here soon