Various Artists – Headroom Volume 1 (The Frequency Lab)

Australia has become host to some world standard producers in the realms of new and emerging sounds of dubstep, wonky and leftfield beats. Headroom Volume 1 has been compiled by label owner Monk Fly, and his co-promoter Jonny Faith, together they run Headroom, Sydney’ regular nightclub event dedicated to future beats, and weekly radio show For The Heads, on 2SER 107.3FM.

Showcasing producers from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, as well as Glasgow, Berlin and Florence, it’s the local content that really shines here, showing this country can produce world class music in emerging genres.

Roleo opens the compilation with the great “High’”, laying down mad synth highs as good as Joker or Starkey, but keeping the beat firmly hip hop. Inkswel bring the 8bit sounds to great effect on “8 Bit Waterdrops”, like a cross between Ikonika, Disrupt and Dilla, while Studio Tan lifts the mood with the wonky synth lines of “48 Ways 2 Live”. MoR brings their brand of skwee funk to “Skweemo”, and Indelible serves up old-school Sheffield electronics over a straight up beat in “Material Hypnosis”. Tigerstyle merges 8bit electronics with Autechre style complex micro-rhythms and cool time-shifts of “Activate”. “Marshall High” by Mokke brings more synth and head nodding beats, while Digi G’Alessio gets Dilla-esque with warm synths and skewed beats. Rose Specs gets more downbeat with “Mmm Crunchy Crunch”, and Edseven’ “Pigeon Clap” brings infectious beats and warm electronic hooks, interrupting the hooks for beat breakdowns. The highlight for me is Jonny Faith’ contribution “Trifecta”, hard beats, mad synths, the perfect balance of dubstep and hip hop, showing his versatility, a producer to watch closely, also check the remix he did for Astronomy Class, the man is diversely talented. Know-U feeds a Detroit sound through the dubstep template in “Dune”, while “Ms Dost” by Yoff Trotsy & Westernsynthetics round out Headroom Volume 1 with a strange hybrid of many abstract styles.

That’s what really stands this compilation apart from others, not just the diversity in sounds, but the many hybrids created, giving a fresh collection of future beats from relative unknowns. The future for these artists should be one to watch, with future releases planned, and hopefully some live appearances at Headroom in Sydney. If you’re excited by future beats you have to buy on sight. Check out more at www.thefrequencylab.com.

Wayne Stronell