TDR mix of the week: Kode 9
Let’s face it – the Brits in the last 20 years have been at the forefront of innovation when it comes to new musical styles. After the US birthed house and techno (Chicago and Detroit respectively) the British took that mantle and created a plethora of genres that continues unabated to this day. You’ve had trip hop, idm, drum n bass, broken- beat , 2 step, garage and now the dubstep craze that has been infecting dancefloors worldwide.
For those who don’t know what dubstep is, imagine what happens when you mix the hauntology of techno, the stutter step rhythms of drum n bass, add effects to wobbly dub basslines and lace that with low slung breaks. The sound brings to mind post-apocalyptic landscapes that bubble from the outgrowth of urban malaise.
The scene was initially conceived after the rise of garage in the early 00’s and quickly became a protest by many producers and music heads who felt alienated by the superficiality of the massive mega clubs that were cropping up around London. What was once a groundbreaking sound that emphasized community and innovation had become fodder for C list celebrities and bottle service.
Enter Kode 9, one of the main ambassadors of dubstep who has put together a wicked mix of tunes for RBMA Radio. He runs the highly influential label Hyperdub records and is constantly sought out for his remixes and production work. His club “The Forward” is now legendary for birthing new artists and for staying on the cusp of what is happening in the dubstep scene. This is what the future sounds like; terrifying and funky.
