Caffiends

Roughly 24 hours ago, Mary Anne Hobbs presented nocturnal listeners with a 45 minute special guest mix from the man of the moment, Skream. Entitled “The Future Sound of Skreamix”, it is packed full of exclusives and unreleased Skream tunes, making the Freeizms seem a little less special! Grab the mix and tracklisting below!

DOWNLOAD: Skream – The Future Sound of Skreamix for Mary Anne Hobbs (12-08-2010)

On a personal level, I find it particularly difficult to review albums. I find it very easy to review a song, and quite easy to review an EP but when it comes to reviewing an entire album, I find myself fighting my own attention span. It often takes several stops and restarts before I can get into the album and make it all the way to the end – by which time I find myself more relieved than not.

However, when Skream’s sophomore album Outside The Box landed on my doormat this morning, my disorientated mind fighting through the hazy glow of the light through the curtains told me that this needed my opinion. This is probably because the album has become more and more important to me, even before it was released. I can go on and on about dubstep and how I worry for its future, and I feel that I am placing my trust back in the godfathers of the genre to reinvigorate it. One of those godfathers, of course, is Skream and the sounds we’ve been hearing from him have been so encouraging that they actually instil some hope for the future of the genre.

(continue reading…)

Dubstep’s first supergroup, Magnetic Man, comprising of Artwork, Benga and Skream, have just had their first BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix broadcast it’s only fair that you download this as it is a little nugget of dubstep history. The essential mix comes in the run up to the release of the debut album on the 4th October. You can also purchase the first single “I Need Air” along with remixes from Redlight and Digital Soundboy.

I don’t have the tracklisting just yet, but will be sure to add it when I get it!

DOWNLOAD: Magnetic Man – BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix (24-07-2010)

BUY: Magnetic Man – I Need Air (iTunes)

Also, peep this video of Magnetic Man performing “Perfect Stranger”, which features Katy B, at Parklife…

Today is the day the Skream presents to us the final instalment in his Freeizm series, a collection of unreleased productions packed into a zip folder and then unleashed upon the public for them to download for free. This is all in an effort to tease our taste buds in the run up to the release of his sophomore album Outside The Box, which is released on August 9th (pre-order it now!!!! I beg you!).

The first Freeizm was epic, touching every point on the dubstep spectrum, which was further reinforced by the second Freeizm package. Now Croydon’s dubstep don has upped the ante for the third and final volume, loading it with 9 tracks; three of which are remixes. This time we see a less rounded side to Skream, with a more eclectic collection being presented here packed with some old favourites!

“Behind The Curtain”, “Meta-Lick” and “Metal Mouth” are original productions which have a definite lean towards the “filthier” side of dubstep with multiple, rawer basslines. “Let’s Go Fucking Mental” does exactly what it says on the tin and it takes that raw sound and morphs into a bouncier rhythm that will no doubt set any crowd off in the middle of a set. All of these contrast with “Rollin” which demonstrates a more ambient sound, where the subs take over with gentle beats. “Pick Ya Knees Up” comfortably sits in the middle of all these tracks as a dark track with a omnipresent electronic feel on top. The remixes in this package couldn’t be any further from the other tracks. The Skreamix of Geiom’s “Reminissin” is clearly stated as a tribal track, with dub undertones. We switch to a reggae style in the Skreamix of Dr. Blue and The Time Travellers’ “Dr Who Dub”, and finally we see grime given a dubstep lick in the Skreamix of Geeneus’ “Now Is The Time”.

After listening to this, no one can ever accuse Skream of being a one trick pony. His ability to give any sound his respectful touch is something that is rare in the today’s world where any one can press a few buttons and add a stinky bassline to a track and call it a remix. This is a definite download, and I defy anyone not to skank to any of these!

Tracklisting:

1. Skream – Behind The Curtain
2. Skream – Meta-Lick
3. Skream – Rollin
4. Skream – Metal Mouth
5. Skream – Pick Ya Knees Up
6. Geiom – Reminissin (Skream’s Tribal 44 Mix)
7. Geeneus – Now Is The Time (Skreamix)
8. Skream – Let’s Go Fucking Mental
9. Dr. Blue and The Time Travellers – Dr. Who Dub (Skreamix)

DOWNLOAD: Skream – Freeizm Vol. 3

PRE-ORDER: Skream – Outside The Box

It’s only been a few weeks since Skream dropped his Volume 1 of the Freeizm series, and already Volume 2 is landing on your doorstep with five productions to keep you on your toes. I’m holding off on any review on this one because it really isn’t needed. Everything Skream puts out is quality and this is no different. Skream is to dubstep what Wiley is to grime.

Tracklisting and download link after the jump!

(continue reading…)

The season of festivals is upon us and summer can’t pass without some absolute bangers flooding the clubs and percolating into the ears of greedy beat lovers. Skream does his duty here and feeds these needs and desires by releasing a free, four track EP laced with an eclectic mix of tracks that juice the taste buds in the run up to the release of his new album, Outside The Box, which will be available to buy on August 9th.

Two original productions and two remixes. A balanced equation. But that does not mean that either track is similar to the other. Ooooh nooo. This will satisfy any dub lover, whether you love your garage influences or your wobbles. This EP touches the four corners of the dubstep globe.

Oh, and there’s two more to come before the album is out…

DOWNLOAD:

1. Skream – Pitfall
2. Skream – Minimoool
3. Robin S. – Show Me Love (Skream Bootleg)
4. The Dead Weather – Cut Like A Buffalo (Skreamix)

I know this dropped ages ago but I still can’t pass on the opportunity to get my two cents worth on this. This delivery is Skream‘s epic remix of Donea’o‘s “Riot Music“. It first surfaced around mix-December time but the full, 320, popped up late last month. I am seriously loving it as well. But it has made me think a lot more about Skream’s musical direction lately. Near the end of last year, Skream showed off a clip of a supposed “jungle tribute”. Well, this tribute seems to be extending itself over a few more tracks and this remix is no exception.

With the meteoric rise in popularity of dubstep in last few months, thousands of people have been piling onto YouTube and MySpace or whatever, and checking out otherwise unknown artists. The likes of Borgore and Doctor P have blown up before they’ve even had a chance to blink. But the likes of these artists bring a whole new dimension to dubstep – the “filthy” kind. Now I can’t speak for Skream, I don’t know what’s going on his head, but I’m get tired of every track being rated on “filthiness”. These are tracks that are now choked with more basslines than sense. I could record a jet engine, stick a random sample and a 140bpm drum pattern on top and I’ll be getting “FIIIILLTTTTH” all over it. Where’s the talent? It doesn’t help that so many of these fans are shunning the work of Caspa, Rusko, Skream or Benga claiming that they are now shit! It is unbelievable! These are the people that made dubstep what it is today. The stuff that those four artists, amongst others, have produced has exhibited far more talent and emotion and dedication to perfection than any other of these new filthy artists.

This what it looks like Skream has seen, and I wouldn’t be surprised if his dubstep output decreases in number much more.  He’s being shunned by the mass wave of new fans. The ones who are ignorant of the history. It’s great to see Skream embracing something different – in fact, this whole junglist vibe has been very quiet over the past few years so I wouldn’t be surprised if a few more Skream junglist tracks led to a resurgence of junglist popularity. I’m certainly feeling it and Skream’s got my support with whatever he plans to do.

Oh yeah, here’s the remix…! It’s been released on Digital Soundboy so be sure to cop it!

Donea’o – Riot Music (Skream Remix)

Littering the blogs lately is the remix of Chromeo’s “Night by Night” by Skream, released on the Pepsi-owned Green Label Sound. It’s a typical Skream-style rework, and the vocals of Dave 1 really work well with the deep bassline (very much similar to how La Roux’s high vocals contrast nicely with the bassline in Skream’s killer remix of “In For The Kill”). It’s a very cool, laidback remix. The original gives you the feel of helicopter trips through Miami, the remix takes you out that helicopter, sticks you in a car in light rain, cruising the wide streets of Miami, passing the half-empty bars and clubs.

Chromeo – Night By Night (Skream Remix)