Genre: Dubstep
For years, the names Digital Mystikz - production duo consisting of Mala and Coki - and DMZ - label and club night in London run by the previous two plus Loefah - have been responsible for some of the most cutting edge, forward thinking bass music and have been largely contributing to the rise of what's nowadays known to most people as the dubstep scene.
To say that this release was highly anticipated is an understatement. Every release by the DMZ label is vinyl only (no CDs, no digital format) and very limited. Go on Discogs, check out the second-hand market prices of almost every release of the label and you will get the picture! Add to that the fact that the label hasn't released anything in two years and that all tracks contained on this triple pack EP have been doing the rounds on the Internet or in club nights for years and you can imagine easily that you're in for something quite special.
Now I must admit that so far, except for a few tunes like the epic Anti-War Dub, I wasn't THAT impressed by DMZ. But looking back at Mala's past discography - as this project is in fact a solo effort from the Deep Medi label boss - it seems that the last three years or so have seen the artist eventually bloom into full sonic maturity. Mala has been waiting patiently, quietly piling up banger after banger and now, he's unleashing them upon us. You've been warned.
From the first melancholic keys of Unexpected to the grand finale of Return II Space, this EP is absolutely flawless. Each track has its own distinctive sounds and influences, yet Mala's trademark touch is everywhere, creating a consistent and higly immersive atmosphere. To put it shortly, and in the artist's own words, 'this is bass music to medidate'. Pop Pop Epic takes us on a Detroit to Kingston trip, with its threatening, Blade Runner-esque bass synth, its haunting vocal sample and its first snare that will probably have you jump on your chair on the first listen. Mountain Dread March is a sonic thunderstorm - static electricity flows around your ears upon a devastating beat, tribal drums crash with one note sounds, tension builds up until the track reaches its climax with the arrival of an old-school synth pad leaving you on your knees. Eyez is a DMZ fans favourite and could be described as Mala's own and very unusual take on the infamous wobble. A very moody tune. Livin' Different is yet another gem, with its killer dub bassline and superbly awkward solo synth.
One year after the equally nice Level 9 track on Hyperdub, and for his first longer-than-a-twelve-inch-single effort, Mala doesn't disappoint. Hardcore fans might complain that these tracks have been around for long, but it seems that the man's approach to time and longevity command a certain quality control over his releases. Personally, I don't mind the slightest bit to have to wait a little for such an incredible package of music. It's one thing to listen to it through a Youtube channel, but it certainly is another to listen to the original product. Grab it while you can, it won't be here for long.
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