Eastward On To Mecca

Eastward On To Mecca

Deadbeat [Wagon Repair]

21 February, 2008 | 12.52PM

• Written by: Lee Smith
• Filed under: Music Recommendations: deadbeat, wagon repair

Montreal’s Scott Monteith has been melding dub with minimal electronics since 2000 on labels like Pole’s ~scape, and this cool debut for the Wagon Repair crew continues the thread, albeit with more dancefloor attention than most of his previous work.

The lead track is a writhing, crackling beast that manages to cut through on the floor despite a ton of reverb-heavy details, recalling the kinetic tumbles of Canada’s early nircohouse scene matched with the cavernous sound design of post-Ableton techno.

Clever without being dull and intricate without being too fussy, it’s Monteith’s most accomplished dancefloor outing to date.

Meanwhile, the smokin’ Dub version cranks up the reverbs with a straight-ahead bass hum, endlessly echoing stabs, and a classic Kingston vibe.

As with much of Deadbeat’s work, it makes no bones about its creator’s love of all things dub.

Finally, the starker minimal re-edit will probably appeal to DJs of a straighter persuasion, but although it’s functional enough, it’s more of a tool than a track proper.

Proof, if indeed any was needed, that the dub-techno nexus is alive and well in 2008.

• (0) Comments
• (1098) Views
• Get 'Eastward On To Mecca' on Beatport