Melodic dubstep may sound like an oxymoron at first, but it is for sure the best of its kind. It’s the kind of music that will take you out of your element, away from your own personal shit show – kinda like most music, but better. I would go as far to say it carries you to heights higher than our own beats to blaze to. So get out your best speakers, preferably headphones, and take a step away for a minute with some bass in mind.
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Cry Wolf, quite honestly, shocked the hell out of me with their cover of David Banner’s ‘Play’. It’s dirty, and I never knew how dirty Banner likes to get until Cry Wolf spelled it out quite clearly.
Now the Cry Wolf duo is up to nogood on their cover of Rihanna’s ‘Please Don’t Stop the Music’ with vocals provided by Maigan Kennedy. It’s dark as hell and I bet that’s how Rihanna would’ve originally wanted it (popstar problems).
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The Dubstep Queen gets another healthy dose of dub smeared all over one of her latest, ‘Hanging On.’ Thankfully, Wonk went with the more melodic side of this bass driven style, because I’m getting sick as shit of the mindless mess dubstep’s drops are going through right now. Still not feelin Tinie Tempah’s feature towards the end, but Wonk put enough bass in to keep me occupied.
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I thought I heard something about a Big Gigantic // GRiZ collaboration. Weren’t they callin themselves Big Griz or Grizantics or some shit like that Whatever they’re goin by, their first single is one step up for this power-house duo. ‘Power’ is an anthem of a song with an electro-funky, industrious style. But the best part of all, that Gigantic of a sax solo, I gotta thing for the brass.
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This is one slick rick song. It’s got a lasso for a melody fused with all sorts of electro madness. And vocals are spot on with the beat. It’s actually got me seriously considering compiling a “songs to get in a gun fight to” — think it could work
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Brink’s ‘This is Halloween‘ & his Beetlejuice remix were my first good glimpse into dubstep’s favorite holiday, but I haven’t heard much more that combine the two so well. But finally just in time for Halloween I found Funk Hunters & SkiiTour’s ‘Candyman’ remix. Not only does it chill to the core, but the dubstep is solid brass to boot.
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I first got ahold of Love in the Circus with Rook’s remix of their song, ‘Clouds‘. And like ‘Clouds’, ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ sports some forward thinking production and the most b.e.a.utiful vocals provided by Leanna Rachel.
If you didn’t know by now, ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ is a cover (can you not read subtitles), which was originally done by INXS (it was pretty popular). But instead of just flat out covering the song with maybe a little twist, Love in the Circus brings in so many other goodies. From dubstep undertones (can’t oversell the dubstep anymore) to some fine brass solos, this cover is a treat I’m sure glad I dug up.
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Mumford & Sons have always been a nice change of pace for me to listen to, but I’m no diehard folk rock fan. However, put a lil electro-step into folk and it may just peak my interest.
Hobotech does just that with a folk-step remix of Mumford’s well known ‘The Cave.’ Luckily, he doesn’t lay the step in too hard and plays off Mumford’s original with grace… or as graceful as this electro step can be.
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I’ve heard a few dubsteppers use old school singers in their set, but none have pulled it off like The McMash Clan. Taking Julie London’s classic ‘Sway’ and speeding it up just a touch (right on the border of that chipmunk sound), the trio puts a heavy load on London’s classic voice, updating it into this glorified dubstep era.My only issue with the song is that they hit a little too hard after London’s intro. But, from then on this shit sails over her voice in a glitch infested, bass possesed hell of a song.
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Voodoo Farm is my main man for those raunchy dubstep remixes and now we get ’em all packed up neat in his official VOODOO FARM REMIXTAPE. With newly-mastered versions of 15 remixes + 7 unreleased ones, you’d think we have some new shit to romp around to for at least a few weeks, but the only way it falls short is in bringing anything fresh.
Voodoo’s included all the remixes that made him so special to me, but all the new shit is small compared to this behemoth of a mixtape. Still, this is a collection definitely worth keeping.
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