Aerial

After releasing a succession of acclaimed 12's on Tectonic, SubSolo and Philpot, Dave Huismans aka 2562 is finally back armed with a beefy 10 track full length that takes off where his 12's lefts off- by totally redefining the traditional dubstep sound. Made up of four previously released cuts and six totally new compositions, Huismans has come to conquer both the dubstep and dubtech spheres, but not through dividing them but combining them. On the face of it, it may seem like Aerial treads similarly murky territory as Kode 9 and Burial but 2562 builds upon the now stagnating dub-step foundation by formulating unique and progressive arrangements in which he inserts a delicate electroid flair, a component that sleekly oils together the cavernous bass distortions and splintered snares to create energetic and flowing soundscapes. Over the course of the 10 tracks, skeletal 2-step clatters and ambient techno murmurs collide within a hollowed and warped-out dub aesthetic that will subtly pound you into submission.From the atmospheric and brooding breaks of the Witchman-esque `Morvern' to the prime dub-tech territory of `Channel Two', a track which fuses `Hong Kong' era Monolake with the techtonic bass fluctuations of Skream, Huismans uses `Aerial' as a medium to showcase a wide and engaging expanse of bass-led soundscapes. Wearing his roots dub influence on his sleeve, `Moog Dub' is a track built around a rolling melodic-dub echo motif that warps in and out of focus whilst being complemented by contrasting bass shudders within a smokey deep-tech structure. If bass fluctuation is your thing then `Techno Dread' will leave you floored. Perpetual, ultra low-end bass churns persist machine-like, providing a simmering foundation to sparklingly arranged tech-house flutters. It's like Luomo was taken advantage of by Distance whilst Maurizio's `M-Series' rotated quietly in the background.Moving on further through the album, `Greyscale' utilises a fizzing micro dubtech aesthetic that will have fans of Chain Reaction and Raster-Noton salivating. A skeletal techno beat is shrouded in heavy delays and inhumane echoes and left to froth perpetually in a distant sub-aqua realm before attempting to resurrect itself from its slumber to create a dark and distinctive slice of atmospheric dub-step. After this track, the previously released `Enforcers' explodes forth with its bustling, re-modified 2-step and wobbly bass that sounds like the result of being in the boiler room of a submerged club in which Detroit Techno DJ's and Dubstep DJ's are battling it out.Dripping with a clinical Berlin dub-vibe and composed with a hazy deep-tech aesthetic, Huismans has created a beneath sea-level dub(tech)step monster that, at times, drives and distorts with real venom yet also soothes and relaxes with its ambi-melodic core. I know Pinch had an (inconsistent) dubstep album entitled `Underwater Dancefloor' but the tracks featured on `Aerial' are far more befitting of that album title. (KS)For fans of: Senking, Pole, Burial, Kode 9, Loefah, Maurizio, Mono Lake, Witchman