- Warsaw's Tom Stempniewicz used to be a dubstep producer, but his second EP for Concrete Cut features two slabs of burnt-to-a-crisp techno. Or something close to techno, anyways. "The Roach" is essentially a brutal techstep tune that's been unspooled. The deep robotic vocals, sludgy basslines and big-room drums sound like Noisia, and although it's fascinating to hear these elements presented in a less claustrophobic manner (there are still some heavy-duty drops), its cartoonishness could be a turn-off for some. "Broadband" is faster, with coiled drums that slam in a pseudo-dubstep style, and a spoken-word Britney sample that elevates the track to an absurdly epic level.
The remixes are as good, if not better, than the originals. Deft turns "The Roach" into a drum & bass banger, but he retains the tune's distinct sense of space, turning in a twisted rework that recalls recent tracks by Fracture and Om Unit. Unknown To The Unknown associate Kodiak makes "Broadband" into a mangled number that hops along like stunted UK funky. Bambooman's remix is even weirder, keeping the skeleton intact and adding jazzy noodling and other little sounds here and there.
Tracklist01. The Roach
02. Broadband
03. The Roach (Deft Remix)
04. Broadband (Kodiak Remix)
05. Broadband (Bambooman Remix)