Thursday, August 20, 2009

Cyclic Defrost Magazine

Cyclic Defrost Magazine

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Jamie Vex’d – In Systems Travel 12″ (Planet Mu)

Posted: 20 Aug 2009 03:12 AM PDT

Jamie Vex'd - In Systems Travel

Vex’d have always skirted the fringes of dubstep, menacing with their industrial edged sound, bringing something altogether deeper and darker than the usual, like a minimalistic futuristic Skinny Puppy two decades ahead of the pack minus the vocal angst.

Jamie Vex’d has made a departure from this sound with his new EP, ‘In System Travel’ is a subdued affair, with a hidden menace. Imagine squashed soul, and what seems like he’s channeling the ghost of Laurie Anderson. ‘Radiant Industry’ shows only hints of soul, with a monsterous live drum break more akin with hip-hop and funk than dubstep, punctuated with those massive soaring 80’s synth lines that I just can’t get enough of, this has to one of my favourite tracks of the year. ‘Saturn’ utilises these synth sounds too, to great effect, propelling the track while the half-step beats secure it in head-nodding territory.

A massive 12″ with truely incredible artwork too. Don’t pass this one up.

Wayne Stronell

Distance – Skream/Goth-Trad Mixes 12″ (Planet Mu)

Posted: 20 Aug 2009 02:59 AM PDT

Distance Remixes

Distance return with this future stepper, containing a Skream remix of ‘Night Vision’ and a Goth-Trad remix of ‘Traffic’. Skreams ‘So Nasty’ version is sooo nasty, Skream is back on form for this remix, I have been dissappointed of late, but this remix ticks all the boxes, sticking with the half-step, and letting his saw-tooth synth lines propel the track forward, menacing to almost the end, bringing in a nice melody to ease the pain.

The Goth-Trad remix is a more percussive affair with post-rave stabs making me feel like I’m stuck between 80’s industrial EBM and 90’s rave mayhem.

Distance deliver some serious dancefloor pressure with two quality remixes.

Wayne Stronell

at 5:50 PM