Black Box

Killer hardcore Dubstep formatioms for fans of Icicle, SP:MC, Kryptic Minds! Working a re-calibrated halfstep blueprint with devilish intent, 'Wipe Em Out' swipes out drums at the most crucial points for a deadly swingers dynamic accentuated with plunging, spilling subbs. Flipside's 'Uncontrolled' tilts on a more percussive tribal dread roll. Wicked!

After a year of operations as Addison Groove, Antony Williams drops a solid Headhunter 12" for Black Box. On 'Clone' we can almost hear a Juke influence slipping into his dubstep productions, with head-knockin' Toms and and anxious hi-hats, but it's still defiantly halfstep - emphatically proved by those heavy subbass swells. Flipside 'Projector' is more stush, holding it back for the halfsteppers while cyber-mystic synths swirl over plummeting bass.

Darkside Dubstep murkage from DJ Madd and Phaeleh. A-side Madd takes on Phaeleh's 'Lament', condensing the bass to a powerful halfstep shudder and putting the grand string chords to great use. Flipside Phaeleh remixes Madd's 'Pitfall' as a brooding, cinematic halfstep beast with surging mid/subs and super-crisp percussion measured for big rigs.

There must be something in the water out in Finland, as the country that's produced such prodigious and forward-thinking talent as Teeth and Tes La Rok is also home to the latest member to join the Black Box family, LAS. 'Power Surge' channels both the earthier, more vital tones of Mala and the techier aesthetics of Icicle's productions, or Youngsta's DJ sets for Rinse FM. Built round a lean beat of razor-sharp hats and snares, LAS constructs a heavy roller from live-wire basslines and ice-cold atmospherics.