One Hell Of A Mission

Inevitably with any musical act that attempts the transition from the depths of a niche, underground genre to the popularised realms of chart-infiltrating dance music, there are likely to be a series of almost cliché tag lines and comparisons innovated by the press in order to familiarise the public with the act in question and their particular sound whilst avoiding as much descriptive narrative as possible. For the South-London songstress Katie Brien (otherwise known as Katy B) the case is no different, as the precociously talented female vocalist amasses widespread acclaim amidst the release of her debut solo release 'Katy On A Mission'.



"The Florence of Funky," "the next Lily Allen" and even "reminisces of a young Jill Scott" are just some of the comparable insights that have been cast towards the twenty year old, who is seemingly on course to become the highest charting dubstep act to date this Sunday. Therefore whilst some juxtaposing comments may be far from enlightening and perhaps slightly obscure, the publicity appears to have been an effective catalyst in transforming a featured artist on underground grime and UK-Funky tracks into a headline solo act.

Good Life (Remix) - Geeneus & Katy B

"Katy On A Mission’ was released on Monday through Rinse and is the initial instalment for an album that is due out in the final months of 2010. Bass-heavy and laced with the hook-driven, soulful refinement of Brien’s vocal input, the collaboration with Benga showcases the successful integration of contemporary R&B against the backdrop of a dub-laden club vibe. In return Katy B provides the vocals for Benga’s forthcoming single ‘Perfect Stranger’ with his subsidiary venture Magnetic Man, which is a much faster paced, house track displaying the Brit School graduate’s versatility and developed vocal range.

Information about the soloist’s debut album is currently limited, however with a second single entitled ‘Louder’ attached to her debut release, Brien presents the influences of her UK-Funky routes with the collaborative efforts of DJ Zinc insightfully suggesting that the record will perhaps be a variety of dance genres that best suit the singer’s powerful voice.

The Song - Katy B & Others

If this is to be the case, ‘type casters’ will have nightmares trying to label her sound, but for now, basking in inevitable chart success Katy B can simply be crowned the First Lady Of Dubstep.

GET HYPE LABEL LAUNCH

On Saturday the Get Hype Collective will be launching the new Get Hype record label, with releases forthcoming from Tomb Crew, Zed's Dead and Kastle amongst others. Taking place down at the renowned Mass in Brixton, the launch party will take place over two rooms, with the Get Hype Collective showcasing their skills in the Main Room, and Room 2 being run by promoters UPG Bass and bloggers Squitty Bubbler and Fat Kid On Fire.

Front men of the collective,Jeuce, have been on the rise of late, topping the Hype Machine download charts with their rework of Daft Punk's Make Love , and getting support on Kissy Sell Out's Radio 1 Show and ATM Magazine. Jeuce will be playing a live set as well as a DJ Set, and alongside fellow Hype men Sharkbait, Toast, Pondlife and Dave Vern will be mounting an assault on your eardrums with Trashcan DJ's helping out.

In Room 2, expect a no hold's barred onslaught from the truly filthy channels of dubstep, with notorious blogosphere figures including Inspector Dubplate heading up the bill.

Get down there before 11pm for the very reasonable price of £5 on Saturday night for some varied beats and a good warm up pre Carnival, it promises to be a big one.

Check the facebook event here.



On a further note, DJ Sharkbait from the Get Hype Collective also currently operates as an underground illustrator and is the designer of the Yoghurt Warrior clothing range. With support from Annie Mac and Doorly amongst other industry figures, the brand aims to capture the grit and grime of the underground music scene. Check out one recent sweat design above and all the latest threads here

Planas x Foreign Beggars

WE CUT, WE PASTE

Just a quick one for all of the Outlook heads – and all those not going to Outlook for that matter. Pasteman – of Cut & Paste notoriety has put together a promo mix for the festival. Just over a week away now and we’re all very excitably warming up our eardrums with some low frequencies.

As ever, there’s a mix of everything here which is what we’ve come to expect from the man who loves to flirt with a variety of BPMs. One thing ties the lot together and that's Pasteman's love for ample sub-bass.

We'll be seeing Cut & Paste doing their thing in Croatia - we’re all booked on the Bigger Than Barry boat party with Oneman. If you’re not, you should be.

Hit this mix if only for the first track – one of Pasteman’s very own. We’ve heard a few things coming out of his studio and are excited for what the future holds. We'll let you know when there's more.

DOWNLOAD: Pasteman's Outlook 2010 Promo Mix



01. PASTEMAN FEATURING DORRIE - HOW LONG
02. KRYPTIC MINDS - WASTELAND
03. J@KES - TIME ENDS
04. WACHS LYRICAL & RISKOTHEQUE - WHAT I FEEL LIKE DOING
05. ADDISON GROOVE - FOOTCRAB
06. SKREAM - AMITY STEP
07. BENGA - DESCENDING
08. MENSAH - PULSE 80S VIP
09. MALA - EYEZ
10. SKREAM - ROLLING
11. PASTEMAN FEATURING DORRIE- FALLIN'
12. MENSAH & EDDIE K- STEADY AS SHE GOES
13. BENGA - NO BRA NO PANTIES
14. PASTEMAN FEATURING DORRIE - BE THE ONE (Instrumental)
15. SKREAM - METALICK
16. FILTH COLLINS - FEED EM TO THE PIGS
17. SUBSCAPE - MACHINE MUSIC
18. MR LAGER - TELL ME (DISTANCE REMIX)
19. GOLI & ASHBURNER - MADCAT
20. MS DYNAMITE - WHAT YOU TALKING ABOUT
21. 7EVEN - MOONSHINE
22. DISTANCE - GAME OVER
23. P MONEY - SLANG LIKE THIS
24. ZINC - NEXX
25. BREAKAGE - IT KILLS ME
26. SKREAM - GIVE YOU EVERYTHING

We liked it how it used to be...

Old tunes have been popping up here and there recently and so here's my favourite few. Still playing catch up so apologies if you've picked these up already but, if not, you need to.

This one tickles my fancy the most. Jack Sparrow definitely falls in my top 10 Dubstep producers, it'll be a sad day when he stops making beats. Less of the negatives. Big news yesterday was that he has an eleven track album coming out on Tectonic titled 'Circadian Rhythm'. This is due out 4th October and features fellow Leeds based producer Ruckspin. Hold is from Dubstep's early days, as usual Sparrow provides us with plenty of weight and space.

Hold - Jack Sparrow (2004)

Skream and Rusko have played huge parts in the growth of the Dubstep scene, Skream I'd say more so - Rusko sort of split himself off from the scene and has gone on to do his own thing. Both have had albums out recently. Skream's impressed with top production and clean beats although track selection could have been improved slightly. Rusko's fell way short of good but then I guess that's personal preference and it's probably suited better to his local fans. Now for the important bit, both have let out free EPs of old tunes which won't see a release. Here's my pick of the bunch, the Rusko remix of 'Dutch Flowers' has to be up there with one of his best tracks.

Gully Flute - Rusko
Dr Who Dub (Skreamix) - Dr Blue & The Time Travellers
Dutch Flowers (Rusko's Trial Inna Babylon Remix) - Skream

ReSketch has only recently been grabbing my attention, mainly with his collaborations with Submerse. The pair have let out a couple of free tracks - this first one's a bit of a cross between Bassline, Garage and Dubstep. Hybrid bizness. The second, a rolling deeper piece of Dubstep with a Garage drum pattern. Did someone say Future-Garage?!

Madhattin - ReSketch (2008)
Just For You - Submerse (2008)

Get Away - ReSketch & Submerse

Outlook tees have arrived...

Exciting news. All those going to Outlook, who didn't buy a ticket through us, we have 15 of these tees available to buy now and pick up in Croatia. They're ringspun cotton, perfect for the summer with a full quality print. Quick before they're gone!

HUSH CLOTHING STORE

Featuring DARK SKY

This month has seen further evidence of the consistently excellent productions of Dark Sky, who are enjoying growing popularity both under the alias featured here, and in their original format as the Boogaloo Crew.

Their latest EP, Frames, out now on Pictures Music, draws on aspects from multiple branches of the diverging dubstep/garage scene and creates a more fresh and unique style than seen in previous releases. 'Reflex' slowly and ominously drills into you with an ever expanding brooding growl in the bass, and 'Drowned City' demonstrates the effectiveness of a careful use of strings and piano sounds in conveying a powerful sense of calm over a buoyant bassline. 'Fly' sees Dark Sky have the obligatory post-dubstep crack at future garage, using some ravey old school stabs in conjunction with a powerful bassline to create a a really forceful track.

Frames EP Sampler - Dark Sky


They are kindly offering 'Night Light', the 4th track from the EP, for free download. Anchored by a thudding bassline and layered with soaring synths it is a track that can be enjoyed on any occasion.

Night Light - Dark Sky

I strongly advise you to check out the EP sampler, and pick up the release from Juno Download, Bleep or Boomkat.

Dealing out feeling and pain...

Relative newcomer to the scene, Alphabet Pony, has tried his hand at productions in multiple genres, and his evident talent for production has matured more with each attempt. His latest tune gently clicks and clacks around a soothing synth line that dissolves you long before arrival of the sorrowful female vocals.

Atoms - Alphabet Pony

The first track off Brackles' first mix CD, Songs for Endless Cities Vol. 1, shows him taking many of his future garage production skills and applying them to some funky stylings. The result shows a deep and mesmeric side to Brackles which is highly effective and something I hope to see more of in the future.

Blo - Brackles

A slightly older tune, but one which seems at its most relevant as we cling onto the last month of summer, is the Sbtrkt remix of Modeselektor's Art & Cash. Sbtrkt crafts a 2-step beat around the techno original, and the dreamy treble hooks make a perfect track for a hands in the air dancefloor respite at the end of a summer night.

Art & Cash (Sbtrkt Remix) - Modeselektor

And the winner is...

...Alexandre with this big energetic 'Drumstep' rework. Due to be released soon on Get Hype Records.



A very close runner up, Wachs Lyrical took it down a darker route with this rumbling club banger. Lucky for you people, it's available right now, for free!

Trouble (Wachs Lyrical Remix) - Toast

Big up for all the entries, keep doing what you're doing - we have more competitions on the way.

PELSKI PRESENTS

Our friends over at the evergreen You Can Call Me Pelski blog return tomorrow night for the second instalment of their Pelski Presents nights, showcasing a sophisticated mix of house, dubstep and techno. Its free before 10 and only £5 after and they've got a cool venue in the Big Chill House so all you Londoners get yourselves down there tomorrow night. Be sure to check out the facebook event, and see below for the mp3s their headliners are giving out.

'After the smash hit success of the first 'Pelski Presents' - Darkly and Pelski are back with a showcase of deep tribal infused house and snappy 2-step. The critically acclaimed Jet Project (from Booka Shade's Get Physical) brings the sub-aquatic sounds of dubbed up tech-house, whilst Fabric resident Mackaveli will be turning us over with his usual mix of twisted 2-step and sharp techno cuts. London's 'Troublevision' kingpins Solid Gold & Park Ranger, will be taking us on an en vogue eclectic session to the early hours. And it's FREE if you head down to the Big Chill before 10pm. Just grab a tube to king's Cross and you're there...'

Get It Right (T-Bone's Got It Right Re-Edit) - MK (Timmy, one half of Jet Project)

Back To Better Days - Jet Project

Time - Jet Project

Shack 54 (Jet Project Remix) - Two Lone Swordsmen

DOWNLOAD: Mackaveli Summer Jam Mix

1. Seuil & DOP – Glory Hole w/ MC Creed intro
2. Jamtech Foundation – Too Fast (Julio Bashmore Remix)
3. Mlle Caro, Franck Garcia – Dead Souls (Radio Slave Long Distance Kiss Mix)
4. Gongon – Cactus Banger
5. Round Table Knights – Calypso
6. Gel Abril – Spells of Yoruba
7. Hot City – Another Girl
8. DJ Deeon – Work This M.F
9. Cassie – Me & U (Brenmar Remix)
10. Gongon – I Could Be There
11. Active Mindz – Hobsons Choice (Dub Mix)
12. Deetah – Relax (Bump & Flex Remix)
13. Colours – Hold On (SE22 Remix)
14. Blazin’ Squad feat Elephant Man – Standard Flow (DnD Vocal Remix)
15. DJ EZ – Just Turn It Up

Featuring RACK N RUIN

With critical acclaim in the press and support from the likes of Boy-8-Bit, Annie Mac and Toddla T, the young London-based producer has already had his latest release labeled as a certified summer hit, and that, is just what it is.

The ‘Soundclash EP', which was released on June 28th on Black Butter Records, boasts four original compositions with two additional mixes that cater to all dance-floor desires. The record is an impressive, eclectic blend of House, old-skool Breaks, Dubstep and Jungle, providing a powerful backdrop for the dramatic synth lines and smooth female vocals, which tie each track together. Stand out tracks, ‘Midnight Loving’ and ‘Deep And True’ hold a slightly more pop based feel to their production however both are still driven by emphatic bass-lines.

Soundclash (Feat. Jessie Ware) - Rack N Ruin


Deep & True (Feat. Janai & Alphasounds) - Rack N Ruin


Dazed And Confused (Feat. Janai & Illaman) - Rack N Ruin [RUDEEE]

The release is available to purchase at Beatport, Chemical, Juno and Juno Download.

Effectively this record is self-explanatory simply from it’s title, a chaotic cocktail of sound that encompasses influences from the past to highlight the forward-thinking talent of Rack N Ruin. Look out for an exclusive mix from the man himself round these parts soon.