- After a slight delay, Ireland's first dubstep label [Naked Lunch] returns to deliver another statement of intent with their second release, a split 10-inch between Breakage and Instra:mental. While both artists are equally at home in the world of drum & bass or dubstep, the imprint seems to be digging for a wide angle on the latter, taking in both a classic Bristol sound and the new Dutch and Berlin influenced school of techno-dubstep hybrids. This should be no surprise considering the label was conceived in Rotterdam and is based only a relative stone's throw from UK dubstep's south west epicentre.
Breakage, AKA James Boyle, has already appeared on the label, roughing up TRGs "Generation" late last year, and here he kicks things off with a percussive-heavy piece reminiscent of Cyrus. Pinpoint snares and heavy kick drums battle it out over slowly bleeding atmospheres, spooky, shimmering melody lines and seriously low end bass wobbles to perfectly capture the mood of its title: "Late Night."
Things are far less pensive on the second side, where Instra:mental put their foot on the pedal and launch into a 130 BPM tribal workout. Whereas "Late Night" is perfect for opening up some space in a set, "Futurist" is good for hunting it down. The rolling drum lines come across like an impatient, claustrophobic "Blood on My Hands" with hawkish dub atmospheres and a steely sense of enforcement reminiscent of France's excellent 7even Recordings label. Driving, rolling and frighteningly cocksure.
Tracklist A Breakage – Late Night
B Instra:mental - Futurist