Sydney-based dubstep producer Know-U first started throwing parties, Djing drum and bass and playing in bands back in Newcastle, before his recent relocation brought him to the attention of The Frequency Lab collective, leading to his playing at their monthly label party. He’s also attracted significant attention already during his comparatively short career, with his tracks receiving blog and podcast support, as well as interest from UK dubstep names such as Hot Flush’s Gravious. This five track 12″ EP offers up the first taste of Know-U’s dark and brooding dubstep productions, and appropriately, takes its title ‘Kabuto’, from the Japanese word for Samurai helmet, suitably evoking an atmosphere that’s both exotic and hard-edged. Opening track ‘Gooseflesh’ certain lives up to this description, opening with an ominous wash of dark ambience before crisp, rapid-fire breakstep rhythms emerge from the shadows and lock in around vast, swagger swells of ragga-centric bass, with moody, shimmering synths lending proceedings a vaguely melancholic and weary-sounding edge.
By contrast, ‘Like Horse For Comfort’s lightens proceedings somewhat but still maintains that dark underlying edge, with flickering snares and rippling electronics making their way over a downbeat backing of synthetic dub bass and clicking electro accents, before ‘For Get Full’ sees dark, delayed-out atmospheric piano trills making an appearance alongside stabbing bass noise bursts in what’s easily this EP’s most eerily soundtrack-oriented moment. If the aforementioned three tracks suggest a release sitting closer to the late night listening end of the dubstep spectrum, the flipside brings the dancefloor fuel, with the devestating ‘Identity Theft tossing in scything waves of sub-bass, before ‘Broken Heart’s closes proceedings off amidst ambient, blurred synthscapes. An impressive debut offering from a local producer who’s definitely following his own muse, rather than simply being another dubstep soundalike.
Chris Downton
