This podcast mix for XLR8R from London production duo Dusk & Blackdown dropped many months ago, but it’s ripe for re-appraisal. I say this primarily as the album which it promotes – ‘Margins Music’ – is a unique document that pinpoints all that is compelling about music in 2008. Yet, it still remains largely (although not exclusively) uncommented by the blogeratti.
Blackdown (aka Martin Clark) knows his dubstep – he is, after all, Pitchfork’s resident advisor on the subject. His 2008 review, now up at Pitchfork, presents us with a distinctly grey picture. In reference to his closing remarks at the end of 2007 (“Anthem bashing was endemic, with sections of the scene competing in harder-than-thou production contests”), he says this for the last 11 months:
“If anything dubstep was worse, as a percentage whole, in this department in 2008. Anthem bashing, cloned derivative productions, reduced experimentation, constrained diversity, and distorted wobble tracks became more endemic. In truth, if this path continues to be the major part of the scene in the future, the genre will burn itself out or turn itself musically and culturally irrelevant in less time than it took to incubate in the dark Croydon shadows. The leaders, fans and advocates of this style will have the blood on their hands of a once vital and unique genre that had been and had the potential to continue to be truly different and original. They will have to live with that shame.”
He’s been blogging about the scene from both a promotional and philosophical standpoint for a number of years, and thus has unique understanding of what the scene requires to push it forward. When his track ‘Lata’ dropped back in 2006 (coupled with a Burial remix of ‘Crackle Blues’), it fast become worn out on my turntable – a beautiful slice of downtempo, percussive dub with a vocal from legendary Hindi singer Lata Mangeshkar delicately woven over the top. It was a spectacular exercise in ‘beauty through minimalism’ and a shock to the dubstep system.
Thankfully, lessons were obviously learned from the production, as ‘Margins Music’ is awash with sounds and vocals that represent the true cultural diversity of its birthplace, London Town. It is, in truth, a concept album, a documentary of the capital in 2008, with contributions from Pakistani singer Farrah and Punjabi vocalist Teji, rolling Bhangra dhols, tabla and sitar all competing with innovative electronic production and grime verses spat by Trim and Durty Goodz. In short, it’s a breathtaking ride.
If you remain unconvinced, use this mix – full of unreleased cuts – as a precursor to your main fix (Buy @ Boomkat):
Dusk + Blackdown – Keysound Radio ’08 | mp3
1. Blackdown “Con/Fusion feat. Farrah” (Keysound Recordings)
2. Sully “Jackmans Recs” (unreleased)
3. Grievous Angel “What We Had” (unreleased)
4. Skream “Angry World” (unreleased)
5. Al-Haca “Kryptonite (TRG remix)” (unreleased)
6. 2nd II None “Waterfalls (Peverelist remix)” (Heavy Artilery)
7. JME “Go On My Own” (BBK)
8. Joker “Digidesign” (unreleased)
9. Dot Rotten “I’m a Professional” (GPP)
10. Starkey “Gutter Music” (unreleased)
11. Ghetto and Rudekid “Sing For Me” (unreleased)
12. Gemmy “Supligen” (unreleased)
13. Geeneus feat. Wiley, Riko, and Breeze “Knife & Gun” (unreleased)
14. Zomby “Aqafre5h” (unreleased)
15. Blackdown “Concrete Streets feat. Durrty Goodz (Keysound Recordings)
16. Wiley “If You’re Going Out I’m Going Out Too” (Grime Wave)
17. D1 “Oingy Boingy” (unreleased)
18. Dusk “Focus” (Keysound Recordings)
19. Dusk + Blackdown “Kuri Pataka feat. Teji and Farrah” (Keysound Recordings)
20. Pangaea “Router” (Hessle Audio)
21. Zomby “Duality” (unreleased)
22. Guido “Orchestral Lab” (unreleased)