Author Archives: Bassweight Society

Raggs – In Your Eyes EP [ELK012]

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Elk Beats is US-based imprint that operates on 100% self distribution and an intention of facilitating a platform forward-thought.  Founder of the label, Donnie ‘Esh-One’, has been a largely prolific figure in the United States underground scene, whether it’s his dedication to dubplate culture (the man has PILES of acetate!) or his ever-changing styles within the production arena.  You can always count on fresh-sounding music to be hosted by an innovator like Donnie.

The ‘In Your Eyes’ EP marks the twelfth release for Elk Beats and showcases a downtempo cosmic ethos.  Raggs is an OG dubstep figurehead who has long been part of El-B’s infamous Ghost Recordings crew as well as the Croydub event regularly held in Croydon.  One of the baddest females around.  She has done vocals for two beats that are produced by Dubface and Kinzy.  The release definitely holds the vibe of darker, more emotional 140 styles.  The title track, In Your Eyes, is produced by DubFace – who has been producing grime and dubstep for the past 8 years or so – and is my favorite beat off the release.  The swing of the drum pattern and the analog sound of the lead high synth add a perfect amount of gritty-emotion to the vocals laid down by Raggs.  The final track of the release is ‘Surrender’ produced by Kinzy.  Kinzy has long been making a good beat or two as well as hosting his radio show on Rood FM Mondays 2-4PM (GMT).  This track is next-level.  The spacey textures, colorful synth-work, and evocative processing of Raggs vocals make this tune a seriously cosmic piece of bass music.  The minimal percussion that is so intricately placed adds a perfect “cherry on top” to this whole mixdown.

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Be sure to stop by the label and artist pages below!

Elk Beats:

FACEBOOK || WEBSITE || SOUNDCLOUD

Raggs:

FACEBOOK || SOUNDCLOUD

Buy links:

ELKBEATS.COM

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That’s the word for Tuesday.

See you in a bit.

One love.

– Kinman

Juss B – Metaphysics / Symbols [VLCN004]

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EZ fam’  Hope everyone is doing well and not going too crazy amidst the madness of everyday life in 2012 – it can be quite challenging!

Today I am very happy to feature the most recent release from U.S./U.K. based imprint, Vulcan Audio.  Headed up by Medik and Biak, based out of Atlanta and London, respectively, these guys are slowly but surely beginning to creep their way into the hard drives of listeners both stateside and across the pond.  I featured 002 a couple months back which was a two-tracker that featured Cauze & KBeatz on the buttons.  Today marks release of the 4th installment of the Vulcan Audio discography, and comes from the hands of American producer Juss B.  You should be familiar with his sound by now with his release catalog containing support from labels like Gradient Audio, Phantom Hertz, and San Diego based collective Sub Pressure.  This mans approach to atmospherics and gritty nuerofunk style energy is definitely a standout characteristic to his production branding.

The A side, ‘Metaphysics’, brings you into a realm of distant chants, twisted reeses, and pressure-ridden grooves that are sure to keep your head nodding.  The high hat panning adds a very nice movement to the percussive presence – especially in conjunction with the delayed drum hits that alternate back and forth with each other.

The flip, ‘Symbols’, is a shoulder-slumper.  Really clean atmospheres fill the mix out, the neuro-swing elements are well-executed, and the beat’s evolution is smooth like butter.  Interested to see how Juss B’s productions evolve in the near future – should be exciting stuff!

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Be sure to stop by the label and artist pages below, respectively.  Also, you will find a buy link so you can snag this release if you haven’t already!

Vulcan Audio:

|| SOUNDCLOUD || FACEBOOK ||

Juss B:

|| SOUNDCLOUD || FACEBOOK ||

Buy link:

JUNO DOWNLOAD

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I’ll catch you guys in a couple days with a really DOPE interview feature lined up.  Blessssss.

-Kinman

Edgewoode – ‘Me X You’ / ‘Ride Or Die’ [DEC012]

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Today we’re going local with a great release from Los Angeles-based outfit, Deceast. This label run by LA OG, Deco, has knocked our heads back with a soulful new release by rising trap producer, Mayhem’s alter ego, Edgewoode. While this release may have elements of trap (808’s, snare rolls and wild hi-hats) the overall feel is that of some spaced-out soul music with a more-than-acceptable beat. Reminiscent of the “Purple” camp out of Bristol, Edgewoode does not hold back on the keys and goes in creating bending synth lines and funky vibes suitable for courting in a spaceship.

The first track of the release is easily the sexier of the two, made for a nice break in a set and to add some often needed funk. “Me x You” is almost like elevator music (in a very good, and much needed way), if the elevator were going into space and had low-end installed for the ride. Check it out.

The flip-side “Ride or Die” has the similar trap-feel, but with a synth line that makes you want to take off your shirt and wave it around your head like a helicopter. (Just listen) After you re-dress, Edgewoode give you a chance to get yourself together and enjoy the spaciousness of the following verses, which are toned down, but just as soulful.

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Both tracks are fully sufficient in the sub frequency department, and would surely fit nicely into any Bassweight Society reader’s set or playlist. If you are a fan of Joker, Gemmy or Guido, this release is for you. Make sure to listen and support our stateside scene by purchasing the release here.

|| BEATPORT || iTUNES ||

Follow Edgewoode here:

|| FACEBOOK || SOUNDCLOUD || TWITTER ||

And lastly, make sure to check out the DOPE website that Deceast has up and running:

Deceast Label Webpage

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– Shice

Sparxy – Gravitation EP [PORK009]

Posted by Bassweight Society on

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“Sparxy is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in dubstep and UK bass music, and with this EP he shows no sign of letting up on momentum.”

What’s good fam’.

Today I want showcase the ninth release on quickly rising label Bacon Dubs.  Since early 2011 the imprint has been releasing music from some of the scenes most deadly newcomers like DubApes, Reamz, and label boss Sparxy.  Here at Bassweight Society we’ve covered more than a few of the tracks put out on Bacon Dubs simply because the production quality is top-notch and many of the beats are of the few that find a common ground between foundation style bassweight and the aggressive nature of mid-range basslines.  PORK009 is another EP from the hands of Sparxy with collaborations from Fused Forces and Mannix.  There’s also a remix of Sparxy’s 006 release ‘Mr. Robot’ from newcomer Area Zero.  The beats from this release have been receiving support across the board from some of the most influential DJ’s in the underground – Skream & Benga, N-Type, Truth, Soap Dodgers, and J:Kenzo to name a few.  It’s honestly no surprise that this release is receiving such a high amount of praise because each of the tracks are absolute rinsers, each having a very unique structure and sound – ranging from 4×4 to groove swung half-step.

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Gravitation ||

As the releases title track it opens up the mood quite nicely with its swinging grooves and droid-like mids.  Placing very minor percussive elements intricately throughout the mix really fills out the ethos of the track.  This is a perfect beat to grab the crowds attention and let them know you’re not here to mess about.

The Guardian ft. Mannix ||

This beat fit is nothing short of a 4×4 techno stomper!  the clean sub hits, pounding tribal kick patterns, and overall energy of create a serious rave vibe.  The tone of the vocal sample used perfectly round off the beat by complimenting its sinister presence.  The reverb-drenched, but still dry, hit of the snare add a great high frequency element to keep the mix fresh throughout.

Leviathan ft. Fused Forces ||

This collaboration with Fused Forces is without a doubt one of the largest tunes I have heard thus far in 2012.  The track title couldn’t be better suited for the monstrous presence of gritty reeses and sci-fi score eeriness heard in distant chimes lurking beneath the mix.  And f*cking hell – that kick drum!  Seriously, the variety of modulations applied to the basslines in this beat are beyond me.  This is one of those that can honestly send blood rushing through your veins in the same fashion our sympathetic nervous system would after seeing a Bengal Tiger turn the corner on us.  Flat-out mental.

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Bladddoowww fam’.  I hope that you enjoy the sounds!  Be sure to stop by Sparxy’s pages (below) to show him some support if you’re feeling his sound:

|| FACEBOOK || SOUNDCLOUD ||

Below are links to purchase PORK009 so make sure to cop yours!:

|| JUNO DOWNLOAD || BEATPORT || CHEMICAL RECORDS ||

See you next time!

To the gods.

-Kinman

Demon – Blood Sport / Intensity [ICU006]

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If you haven’t seen the name ‘Demon’ circulating at some point or another over the past few months, you’ve definitely been smoking way too many bath salts.  He has, alongside his hefty crew, been infiltrating the 140 scene with pumping sub-bass notes, and his uniquely twisted mid-range filter modulations.  As founder of the M.U.D/M.U.V (Macabre Unit Digital/Vinyl, respectively) he has been able to aggressively make his presence known over the past year.  Signing releases to heavyweights such as Biome, DCult, and Perverse – to name a few, the represented sound has gained a very strong and dedicated following.

Demon takes a breather from releasing on M.U.D/M.U.V for a brief moment with tunes ‘Blood Sport’ and ‘Intensity’, as they have been signed to ICU Audio.  Both of these beats take a Freddy Krueger approach to their sound design, and will likely leave you wondering what the f*ck just happened!  I am really happy with the way this release represents a ‘sound’ or ‘vibe’, as a whole.  It’s not just two tracks thrown together as an ‘A’ and ‘B’, rather two tracks built with the intentions of being released together.  It could be said that between these two tracks there is a story being told.  Some might argue my claim but if you play these tracks back-to-back in the mix you’ll understand what I’m talking about.  You see this often when someone plans on building an album, but no so much with a 12″ – I’m really feeling this approach, whether intended or not.

Blood Sport ||

As this one creeps in with distant tribal chants and delayed synth chords there is a mystic energy being built up.  Then the track is stripped and the only thing left is a swelling chant.  You’d think, at first listen, you know what’s about to come next.  For f*cks sake, you probably couldn’t have been more wrong!  The way this beats evolves from a colorful meditation vibe, into a depth-charge of sub weight, built beneath a swinging pattern of kick and snare, made me double glance at my iTunes thinking I somehow switched the track.  This is a half-step riddim’ meant to tear the roof off clubs.  As the track evolves even further, the colorful synths make their way back into the sound field and beautifully integrate ‘tribal’ and, so called, ‘dungeon’ sounds.  Hold tight for the second drop!

Intensity ||

These mid-range bass notes just tear through your mind!  The way he has chosen to build upon the grooves and transitions of this track victims screaming adds an…. errr… well, ironically, ‘intensity’ to the composition, that makes you feel like you are right there – living inside the beat.  Upon the beat hitting its full potential, your body will be surged with an innate urge  to relentlessly roll your body back and forth to bouncy sound design of this one.  It’s a very powerful track, to say the least, that nicely embodies Demon’s style/approach by showcasing his extremely dark and energetic grooves.

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Purchase ICU006:

BEATPORT || JUNO DOWNLOAD

Follow Demon:

FACEBOOK || SOUNDCLOUD

Follow ICU Audio:

FACEBOOK || SOUNDCLOUD

That’s it for today, fam’.  Make sure you snag this release up as it’s an essential for any deep heads collection.

One love.

-Kinman