The Punch Drunk label drops their third full-length CD offering in the form of Guido’s stately, orchestral, yet poppy take on the dubstep sound. Following on from label boss Pevrelist’s intricate techno-influenced album Jarvik Mindstate and RSD’s (Rob Smith from Smith and Mighty) future steppers, Guido showcases another side to Bristol’s well-established bass scene.
There’s a bass weight to Anidea that resonates deeply, like the finest DMZ or Pinch productions, you can almost sense the bass’ soundsystem potential even on tinny computer speakers. So much has been written and broadcast about bass before, from the lawn bashments of Tubby in Kingston, to Renegade Soundwave’s ascertation that “Women Respond to Bass”, I hardly need to impress upon you the importance of a cranking good b-line.
The CD version of Anidea features Guido’s previous singles Beautiful Complication & Way U Make Me Feel, which mix his steady skank with R & B style vocals. Orchestral Lab has also had an outing on Punch Drunk before, with its hanging, syncopated beats and syrupy funk synth line reminiscent of Joker or Hud Mo. There’s the cheeky pleasure of the smooth 80’s sax on Mad Sax. Elsewhere on the album, there’s hints of the Germanic reggae-influenced ‘chip-tune’ scene and the Casiotone tape underground.
The tunes towards the end of the album are certainly the most dance floor orientated on offer throughout the duration of Anidea. Tango has the same bass-materials present elsewhere, but with a touch more skank and the right amount of wobble and squelch. Shades of Blue’s disembodied handclaps, patiently ticking snares and popping zip noises move the vibe of Anidea into a meditative reverie for the end of the night.
As much as I’m enthusiastic about dubstep as a genre, it can be quite limited in its palate. The most memorable tunes coming out of the scene reach out to a stylistic nether region where genres collide and mutate to produce startling hybrids. Anidea is certainly not of that calibre, but Guido is a young producer displaying reserves of maturity and musicality; he certainly has more than an idea available to draw on.
Oliver Laing
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