Dubdogg

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Benga

Already in his fifteenth year of making music, Benga is one of the first dubstep producers from the times when the style was emerging. He wandered into Big Apple record shop where they were amused and gave the cocky teenager a shot at spinning there. That's how it all got started.

After seeing his prodigious talents, they signed him to Big Apple Records. Over the next few years, Adegbenga and his friend Oliver Jones’s creations could be heard at the shop. Since his acclaimed album Diary Of An Afro Warrior, Benga has propelled club music in many directions. There’s always bass, but he refuses to be limited by a sound or scene. Benga has done big business with subterranean basslines, evocative instrumentation and undeniable choruses, placing him in the upper echelons of producer remixers working right now. “They can call it whatever they wanna call it, I'm not afraid to say that my music is dubstep. I've always made this mental music and I made it accessible. I love to use hooks because I grew up listening to Michael Jackson, real music. That's why I made music in the first place.” He insists.

There's a perceptible difference between the oldschool tracks and the new ones, his style changed, it got a bit more electro and less dubstep, he uses more drums, vocals and synths and less bass. It's up to you, which one you prefer. If I had to choose, it would be oldschool. Funny, bright, charismatic, and like all genius musicians, a bit mad, Benga’s enigmatic personality shines both behind the decks and within his music anyway. Give him your love on his website.

Since those early days of Big Apple, Benga has worked with great artists, remixed Example and The Prodigy and performed quite literally all over the world. It’s pretty much actual fact that you need to book a day off life after experiencing a Benga set. “Crowdsurfing in the London Eye, that was a good one.” He laughs of his exuberant, energetic approach. “It was nothing we ever planned to do. It was just natural for me and Skream to get smashed before a show. I was turning up to places and people were telling me I was more rock and roll than rock and rollers.” He says.

Alongside Artwork and Skream, Benga formed Magnetic Man and signed to Sony Columbia. Their self-titled debut featured an eclectic roster of vocalists including artists like Katy B and John Legend and won the trio fans from all around the world. Now signed as a solo artist to Sony Columbia, Benga is ready to take his sound even further with his new album, Chapter 2.

Smack Your Bitch Up by Benga

Midnight by Benga

I Will Never Change by Benga

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Phutureprimitive: Kinetik

Addictive beats, heavy bass, sensual vocals, total immersion, all of these can be found in the newest, extraordinary album of Phutureprimitive, called Kinetik. This is a long awaited second release of the artist. The older one, Sub Conscious is less bass-centric and operates with longer tracks. Kinetik has a completely different, more ambient atmosphere, which opens a whole new dimension for the artist.

He has updated his sound in line with current musical trends, and expertly fuses heavy doses of dubstep and his trademark, melodic tendencies. Kinetik uses all the knacks of the new dubstep wave, but not the primitive way. His work demonstrates an influence from professional downtempo too.

As someone who only recently discovered Phutureprimitive, it will be a great adventure through a whole new world of dark, heavy electronic music. Perfectly timed beats and symphonic sounds are creating a great harmony, this music manages to be relaxing and motivating at the same time. Listening to this album was a really interesting experience, there weren't any tracks which I didn't like.

Here’s what Phutureprimitive has to say about the album: “This album is a reflection of the times we are living in, hard and aggressive, lush and beautiful, kinetic, frenetic, distorted, ever changing, but with each passing moment, a chance to move through life and make it a better place than we found it.”

The first track prepares you for the rest of the album, Cryogenic Dreams is simultaneously melodic and energetic, afterwards comes Kinetik and Xotica, both full of power due to their motion and fluidity of sound. They're very motivational, absolutely perfect for sports like running. Some of the tracks like The Changeling has heavy, powerful bass booming and deep, weighty vibes. In my opinion, there are two more notable songs, Ripple Effect and High Rez both have interesting human and digitally altered robotic vocals. These vocals on High Rez bring contrast to the heavy tone of the album with a more upbeat feel, still connecting to the rest of Kinetik with its choppy bass undertones. Synthy base lines overlay an irresistible rhythm created by digital percussion and intense melodic diversity in his work.
I think this is an album which can't be ignored.