Ben UFO is one of the founders of the Hessle Audio imprint, a label which has come to symbolise the forward thinking in dubstep. At a time when the genre has threatened to go in the same direction as drum ‘n’ bass – that is, becoming a generic cliché – Hessle have continued to release records that push dubstep forward, into atmospheric, techy realms (Ricardo Villalobos has been known to play fellow Hessle founder Ramdanman’s ‘Blimey’). Ben here chooses his top ten tracks of the year, all of which demonstrate that dubstep has life in it yet. From the squelchy glitch of the Vex’d remix of Scuba, the playful atmospherics of Untold’s discipline, to the taut power of Martyn’s virtually anthemic remix of TRG, these are the ten tracks that defined dubstep in 2008 for Hessle Audio, the label redefining it themselves.
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TRG - Broken Heart (Martyn's dcm remix) - Hessle Audio
Joker - Digi-design - Forthcoming hyperdub
Rustie - Tempered - Kapsize
Untold - Discipline - Hemlock
Pangaea - Router - Hessle Audio
Zomby - Aquafresh - Hyperdub
Peverelist & Appleblim - Circling - Skull Disco
Scuba - Twitch (Vex'd remix) - Hot Flush
Mala - New Life Baby Paris - Deep Medi
Ramadanman - Humber - forthcoming applepips
What have been the musical highlights of the dubstep/bass scene in 2008?
It's been a highlight in itself seeing UK dance music reinventing itself constantly throughout the year. The rise of the funky scene has been a spectacular example, and it feels like part of a resurgence in percussive, unashamedly dancefloor-friendly music in London. Hyperdub injected a refreshing hyperactivity and brightness that's quite far removed from the clichés of the both the traditionally dancefloor, and the 'deeper' side of dubstep, which have felt equally functional recently.
What next for Hessle Audio?
We have the next couple of releases planned, and they should be coming out in fairly quick succession in the first few months of 2009. We haven't announced them yet but if you check our recent radio shows you might be able to guess the next one.
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