Back catalogue: Dubstep

Review: Although Rhythm & Sound and Basic Channel man Mark Ernestus has worked with or remixed many different artists over the years, we didn't expect him to join forces with D&B scene stalwarts Calbre and DRS. Yet that's exactly what's on offer here, as the Hardwax founder delivers two typically deep, dubbed-out techno outings crafted from portions of the pair's collaborative cut 'Badman', which is due to feature on Calbre's forthcoming sixteenth studio album, Feeling Normal. Both 'Bad' and 'Badder' are typical of Ernestus' ultra-deep and hypnotic style, with snippets of the duo's original instruments, beats and vocals echoing in and out of a warming, all-encompassing, sub-heavy groove. In a word, it's superb.

Review: Definitely one of the most haunting and quite possibly one of the most seminal cuts Mala has ever made, the show-stopping 'Changes' enjoys a long overdue re-press. Whether you were around when it first dropped in 2007 and never caught the wax, or you've since discovered it from many different samples such as XXXTENTACION's 'Look At Me' or The Game's 'Holy Water', this is an iconic piece of 140 music that transcends genres and generations. A contemporary classic, nothing less.

Review: Hyperdub kick off the vinyl side to their ten-year celebrations with this weighty four-tracker from some of the leading lights from the label's story. Mala is in a strident mood with "Expected, Level 10" carrying through that extra touch of melody from the Mala In Cuba LP. DVA cuts loose with the leftfield scattershot groove of "Technical Difficulties", reveling in tonal experimentation and jagged rhythmic flair to a stunning end. Still locked into the sci-fi trap tangent that characterised Severant, Kuedo turns out the haunting "Mtzpn" and Helix pops up for a remix of Kode9's "Xingfu Lu" that strips down to bare essentials with a little starlit soul rubbed into the framework.

Review: Swiss label Dub Colony Music Switzerland looks across Europe to Mob Killa from The Netherlands for this fourth release after fine early entries from Sentient and TCP. '70 Degrees' opens up with a sense of late night mystery and urban loneliness. 'Kill A Boo' brings some gentle piano tinkles over earth-shattering bass that has you lurching from one foot to the other. There is more duality to 'The Mansion' which has a hypotonic lead flute up top and more weighty bass down low. 'Elitist' shuts down with a further mix of elegant and heady melody and more physical drums.

Review: Mod Sens debuts on Programm LDN with an electrifying blend of soundsystem influences, techno, and electro. Based in Malmo, Sweden, he channels his diverse musical perspectives through the renowned Melt club night in his hometown. This EP, 'Misperceptions,' reflects a period when electro dominated Malmo's underground scene and therefore inspired the artist to craft his interpretation of them. The tracks are introspective, featuring melancholic pads juxtaposed with robust drums and a commanding low-end as Mod Sens explores themes of restlessness and constraint, resulting in four elevated compositions that push Programm LDN's commitment to advancing club music.

Review: Say a big hello to the new Modez label here while getting lost in the hard hitting first release from Modelle. It's a bold barrage of bass, Baille funk and dubstep across six sizzling cuts. 'Pursuit' opens up with lithe broken beats wired up with electricity and percussive hits. 'Dum Dumb' is built on a distorted low end with hard-ass raps and brutal drum breaks, 'Razor Rex' arrests the attention with its pulsing bass and bleeping modular synth sequences while 'Petrie's Rage' is a hyper-speed cosmic banger. 'Jeff On God' (feat Parkinson White) shuts down with more low end energy and this time jungle breaks provide the power source.

Review: UK imprint White Peach have served up all things dubstep since before you likely developed any sense of taste. That's because they made yours; 'Likesss' is the latest set of sonic fruits from rising producer Moreofus, and continues to convince us of White Peach's ability to sway our low-end-erring predilections. Through its ploddy trap, midrange growls, triplet transitions, riotous vocal textures, and pistol-whipping snares - B2 'Menace' coming as the night-bussed, heavy-deep drill highlight - Moreofuss seems set to rack up a lot of 'Likessss' indeed...

Review: Following mesmerising Marseilles mutations from the likes of Syqulone, Kabylie Minogue and Lisa More, Cain ? Muchi return to Gros:Oeuvre with their remarkable debut album. A heady tagine of grime, beats, techno, global bass and contemporary electronica with a title that either refers to famed Moroccan popstar or, far more likely, relates to meaning as 'universe', Dounia is a beguiling clash of western electronics and eastern bars, lyrics, and vocal harmonies. Fractured and macabre throughout from the distorted hardcore bass highs of 'J'wadi' to disarming vocal cries of 'Majdouba' this post grime, pre apocalypse opus is a trip from edge to edge.

Review: Since 2018, the Marble Elephant duo has been colliding drum & bass, deep dubstep and future garage into suns that are both physical but rife with emotion. Truth is a full length which goes deep into their style and shows how versatile they can be. There are atmospheric, immersive sound worlds like the title cut next to glitchy, skeletal garage workouts with sunny melodies like 'Believe', ambient jungle soothers like 'Serenity' and Burial-esque late night cuts like 'Discovery'

Review: Dutch DJ/producer Martyn has always been one of techno and bass music's most thoughtful and diverse operators, with a trademark production style that draws on many interconnected styles and now a Substack newsletter full of interesting essays about different aspects of the music culture he's been part of for decades. Through Lines, seemingly inspired by his ongoing desire to make sense of the musical shifts he's contributed to, is his first career retrospective - a fine collection of personal favourites and hand-picked club workouts featuring tracks recorded and released at different points between 2005 and 2015. It's a terrific collection filled with tracks that variously mix and match elements of dubstep, polyrhythmic techno, UK garage, Detroit techno, broken beat, 140, drum and bass and deep techno.

Review: Over the years, Modeselektor have forged a reputation as fearless innovators, neatly sidestepping genres and frequently confounding critics. Given their tireless touring schedule and the fact they run two prolific labels it's perhaps no surprise that it's been some four years since the last full-length Modeselektor album. Monkeytown flits effortlessly between skittish 140 BPM bass music, clandestine electronica, sludgy hip-hop and even warehouse-flavoured tropical rhythms (see "German Clap"). There are some real standouts, including a dreamy, slo-mo pop outing with PVT, two collaborations with Thom Yorke and a droning Anti-Pop Consortium hook-up. Must-check.

Review: Restricted to a devilishly numbered 666 copies worldwide, this vinyl edition of Modeselektor's inaugural volume in the Modeselektion series is the one final tease before the full finished product drops on CD next week. Presented on crystal clear vinyl, this double pack features eight exclusive excursions into electronic excellence from some of the world's finest proponents. The brushed minimalist Burialism's of Apparat's "King Of Clubs" sets a standard that is maintained throughout. Dabrye's Tad Mullinix & Daniel Meteo adopt a cavernous bass approach to stripped back head nodders on "The Good Star" which is complemented by the short but sweetly demented hip-hop of Siriusmo's "Das Geheimnis". Housemeister breaks loose from the confines of BNR with the kaleidoscopic "Kristalle" which drops a multiplicity of lucid synths over ever mutating electro throbs. Equally "The Assistant Manager" demonstrates Feadz's talent when removed from the day glow environs of Ed Banger. Further tracks from Mala, Ikonika and Cylob lend this release an inimitable aura of must haveness.

Review: Longstanding White Peach fam MOREOFUS returns with this ferociously wide-armed four-tracker. 'Too Far' and 'Okay Look' go hard from the off with big spiked out riffs and sacks of swagger. Real brute force 140 jams. Need a little more sweetness and swing? Flip for 'Blame' and 'Sixteen'. The former a sassy piece of dark garage with occasional flurries into unapologetic electro bassline. The latter a walloping slab of steppy techno that sites somewhere (quite breathtakingly) between funky, garage and breaks. Sweet.

Review: French producer Moresounds delivers a simple nine-tracker of rather advanced and pleasing trap beats, upending the idea that any beat as such needs an MC to survive. It's a miracle that this kind of music can emerge from the French countryside. Deep drops and wonky hat triplets abound, nodding to the deep dubstep tropes heard on international labels like Innamind, but retaining the clean production Moresounds is known for.