SCUBA Vinilo y CD

Review: Hotflush kingpin Scuba has been rather busy touring in recent years but 2012 was the time for a long awaited LP from the man. There are plenty of tracks here, ranging from more experimental, bass-filtered dub beats to straight up techno stompers and we dont' want to spoil it all for you if you havent' heard it yet, but there are a few highlights..."Underbelly" is a favourite here at HQ, bridging grinding electro basslies with techno sensibilities; "July" is another BIG shout, sounding something like Juan Atkins if he were brought up in south London; and "Cognitive Dissonance" takes jungle-style beats to a new level, pushing them further and further away form the safety of harsh mutant basses or reggae vocals. Indulge and enjoy!

Review: Scuba's widely lauded Triangulation gets re-released as a 2-CD set containing new remixes of some of the album's finest moments. Interpretations opens with a remake of original album track "Before", entitled "Before (After)", which is followed by a remix of "Latch" by house types Mike Monday and Will Saul, who pinch the dubstep sensibilities of the original and apply them to a minimal house beat, making for a fascinating sonic exploration. It also features retweaks from the inimitable Falty DL, Canadian producer Deadbeat, Hessle Audio's Joe and South London's Deadboy, while Scuba also reworks memorable album track "You Got Me". The album is also included in its original form, and for those who missed it the first time round, we seriously recommended you check it out. The Hot Flush boss seamlessly moves between a range of tempos, referencing house, techno, experimental D&B, dubstep, garage and all the unexplored, ever-shifting territory between these constellations.

Review: Over the years, there have been numerous approaches taken towards the DJ Kicks series, from spooky nerd-outs and downtempo voyages to funk-laden journeys and inspired, willy-waving eclecticism. On this latest instalment, Hotflush boss Scuba has decided to go for an all-out dancefloor assault. Yet this is no ordinary club-friendly mix. It touches on all strains of bass music with moments that take in juke, techno, dubstep, wonky, future garage, acid, broken beat and more. The rate that Scuba charges through tracks can only be described as furious, shifting between ragged floor fillers, emotion-rich groovers and atmosphere-heavy mood pieces at a rate of knots. That it never seems forced or breathless is testament to his skills. As bass music mixes go, you'll find few better.