- A few years ago—let's say 2006—for a producer like Distance, one of dubstep's first heroes, to release a drum & bass record seems like it would have been out of the question, or at least out of character. It says a lot, then, that the release of his first official drum & bass record feels totally natural upon its arrival in late 2010 for both genres involved. Granted, it's not a complete transformation (you'll have to wait for his "Fading" on an upcoming Exit Records compilation for that): Distance's tracks here sound very much like a dubstep producer acclimating to a new set of guidelines and rules.
On "Skys Alight," the track's straightforward march is staggered by sludgy pockets of LFO wobble, a remnant from his heavier dubstep tracks. While it remains distinctively Distance, sometimes it feels a bit off: the proverbial tapping foot pines for a more straightforward progression. All is forgiven when a fire-glazed synth rises up from below, glowing like it was ripped straight off some lost dBridge track. On the other side, "1 Regret" throws its considerable weight underneath the beats, as frayed chords and a moaning electric guitar conspire to create as much tension with as little movement as possible. Despite the fact that you can see all the seams where things were stitched together, it's an appealing little DIY Autonomic package, and a baby step towards greater things for Distance.
Tracklist A Skys Alight
B 1 Regret