Multiverse is a studio based in Bristol that in the last 5 years or so has been responsible for a out pouring of sick bass music. In honor of this, on July 5th, Tectonic is releasing a double CD compiling a range of dubstep tunes that have come out of Multiverse studios over this time (2004 -2009). The music begins at a time when dubstep was called “dark garage” and was uncommercial, bare, minimal, and had loads of bass pressure and no wobble. Bristol is known for its chest destroying tunes and sound systems, and this release is a nice look back at the earlier style of the dubstep sound, and also a look at how those from the scene have advanced that sound.

Here’s a track list so you know what i’m talking about:

Disc One
1. Vex’d – Lion
2. Circuit Breaker – Phonque (October remix)
3. Moving Ninja – Witchdokta
4. Pinch & P Dutty – War Dub
5. S.N.O – Disturbance
6. Skream – Bahl Fwd
7. Joker – Stuck in the System
8. The Body snatchers – Big Ass Mini Skirt
9. 2562 – Techno Dread
10. Joker & Ginz – Purple City
11. Pinch ft. Yolanda – Get Up (RSD remix)
12. Baobinga & ID – Tongue Riddim

Disc Two
1. Vex’d – Pop Pop
2. Loefah & Skream – 28 Grams
3. Cyrus – Indian Stomp
4. Pinch – Qawwali / Brighter Day
5. Loefah – System
6. Moving Ninja – Uranium
7. October – Three Drops
8. Joker – Psychedelic Runway
9. October – Euro Dance Hit
10. Emptyset – Gate 4
11. 2562 – Unbalance
12. Emptyset – Demian

Tunes like “Disturbance” by S.N.O. and “Bahl Fwd” by Skream just really take me back to when dubstep was less energetic, less hype and very much about what the bass could rattle. Sick to hear again, since most sets nowadays don’t contain anything more than 6 months old. And then you also see the progression, as new guys like Joker got into things, and added they’re own vibe, but with obvious influences from the sound before them (“Purple City” can really be seen in context here, it was a nod to the past, a step to the future).

This double CD is not for DJs, it is for fans of bass music. Its a great look back at a sound that changed/blewup/divided very quickly and how that process carried out in a certain studio in Bristol, UK.

The new EP from Rotterdam’s Noiz Boiz, “Zwarre Bassen, Zware Beats”, is out now and available for free download via their website. And yo, you need to check this out. On both the MC side and the beat side, things are dope. Mucky handles a majority of the beats, but others such as Hayzee, Gomes and Dion47 also add sometimes, but never disrupting the flow of things. There are uptempo tunes, more relaxed ones, but overall its extremely grimey and has more punchy bass and beats than the wobbly dubstep kind.

On the MC side, things are solid too. XL does his thing and goes in without some fake gangsterish threats or bragging about designer sun glasses. Plenty of other heads swing by for some verses too, such as Skinto, Zwart Licht and Boef & de Gelogeerde Aap, and that helps keep things interesting. Top it off with the host of things, Don de Baron, who I think makes the whole thing fun (hard not to like someone shouting out Brrrap! Brrrap!). Some might find him a bit too DJ Khaled-like, I think overall his hyping works out on the album.

Pretty dope release here, grimey, not fake, interseting, and it bumps, what more can you want. Overall I found Track 6, Tegenstand my favorite and also find myself wishing I’d made it to their release party over the weekend, heard it sold it up. Big up guys!

If you haven’t checked it out yet, get yourself over to talesofasteppah.blogspot.com and read some great reviews and photos of Dubstep parties in Holland, Belgium, the UK (and probably more places too). Written but our pals Elize, Rosa, and Grand, the blog offers well written pieces and great photography. Their latest post features a trip over to the 5th birthday of Dubstep institution DMZ over in the UK.

“DMZ 5th birthday. Rosa and I, had planned this London trip for quite some time and had been looking forward to a night of pure dubstep at the MASS. Rosa had already once attended the 3rd birthday but I had skipped that one. All I knew about the venue and the party were the stories, the pictures, and the video’s. That’s exactly the reason why we’re putting this up on our blog, so the ones who missed it will get a feel of what it was like and for those who were there to reminisce. It was an amazing night. Finally some quality time to meditate on bassweight, with friendly folks, diverse DJ sets and many worthwhile rewinds. Culminating point of the evening in my opinion: new Coki banger and Mala jumping on top of the table next to the decks out of enthusiasm, challenged by Loefah to take a dive. A shout-out to all involved, Elize.”

Read the rest of the write up and more here: http://talesofasteppah.blogspot.com/2010/03/dmz-5th-b-day.html

This week we got some cool stuff from the sunny side of Europe. Based out of Lisbon & Barcelona, Iberian Records is run by Conspira & Corsario Riddim (both are producer duos from Lisbon & Barcelona respectively).  They claim to be the first from Spain/Portugal to release dubstep vinyl and they definitly rep their climate, releasing tunes from local Spanish and Portugese producers.

Coming out in September, IBR003 features tuneage from Barcelona beatmaker Relocate. The A-side is actually a remix of his tune Dot Dot Dash by Portuguese Kudoro pushers Buraka Som Sistema (if you don’t know about them, do so now!). The original tune (found on IBR002) is a slower, brooding tune, rather minimal in its sounds. The remix gives it some “umph”, starting off chill, then building a bit, some voices & clapping, and then womp – things kick into a solid, dancy beat and bass sound that reminds me of a fire siren going off in slow motion underwater.  The upbeat tempo keeps things lively – this is definitly one to get chicks movin’ them hips.

preview:  Relocate – Dot Dot Dash (Buraka Som Sistema remix)
IBR003 – A side

On the B-side you will find a heavy thumper of a tune. The bass sounds like the heartbeat heard in the head of Tyranosaurus as he wanders through a prehistoric jungle, every now and then getting interested in something, interest peaks, and then whatever it was disappears, and he goes on his midnight journey.  I dig this tune a lot.

preview:  Relocate - Origins
IBR003 – B side

All in all, a solid release from an interesting label. Keep your eyes open for anything from Iberian – and get to know about sun influenced dubstep.

Here’s the artwork for the release: