Will dub replace minimal in 2007?

Will dub replace minimal in 2007?

30 March, 2007 | 3.12AM

• Written by: Terry Church
• Filed under: Music News: craig richards, hyperdub, skream

If the mainroom last Saturday night at Britain’s top club Fabric is anything to go by, dub reggae and dubstep could soon be replacing minimal techno in clubland.

For a good few hours clubbers bump ‘n’ grinded to Kode 9’s dubstep sounds at the Farringdon venue, which on Fabric’s killer soundsystem sounded devastating.

Berliner duo Rhythm & Sound then played a live set of mainly dub reggae.

Craig Richards, resident DJ of Fabric told Beatportal that dub music and minimal music have much in common.

“The onslaught of minimal techno has created an enthusiasm for a straightforward sound,” said Craig.

“People are currently excited by simple drums and basslines, so producers are making big statements with very little.

“So perhaps simplicity is the common thread between minimal techno and dubstep.

“Dubstep is a very appealing sound so for any one who likes bass heavy electronic music it must have contemporary value.”

On the dancefloor the atmosphere was intense like any other night at Fabric, but in the VIP room overlooking the mainroom, some punters seemed a bit confused.

After all, Saturday nights at Fabric have been a bastion for the four four kick drum since the club opened in October 1999.

The man who has masterminded Fabric’s newfound interest in dub is Matt V, content coordinator at the club.

He explained that dubstep and techno have much in common: “Dubstep sits around 140bpm and has many elements of techno and minimal techno, both being highly influenced by dub.

“It blends perfectly with techno and with acts like Kode 9, Skream, Rusko, Burial and Shackleton there’s already a big crossover with the DJs and producers like Villalobos, Mark Asken and Rhythm and Sound.

“Techno has always incorporated half step beats with acts like Monolake continuing to experiment with the sound and structure.

“Dubstep seems to be joining a lot of the dots in between genres. People seem to think it sounds just like jungle, breaks, techno, and even heavy metal with acts like Distance and Reso.”

Craig Richards said Fabric’s ethos towards electronic music has always been simplicity.

“At Fabric we recognise simplicity by presenting it on a killer soundsystem,” he said.

“It is so much more believable if you hear it properly. 

“We program our nights to develop over the night so it was perfect to have Kode 9 playing dubstep as a warm-up, then Rhythm & Sound playing reggae and finally Luciano and myself playing house and techno. 

“It was an exciting juxtaposition which provided variety over a long period of time.

“Our booking policy is constantly evolving, and finding common ground between sounds is an exciting process. 

“We try to encourage a broad minded approach to listening.

“Ultimately good music is good music regardless of genre.

“There are some great records coming out of the dubstep scene which need to be heard on that soundsystem.”

Fabric continues its support of dubstep on 6th April, and has dedicated Room 2 to the genre by booking dubstep players such as Hatcha, Scuba and MRK1.

It still remains to be seen whether tastemaker Fabric’s support of dub music will by clubs and promoters in the rest of clubland.

For full listings and info at Fabric, check out Beatportal’s Event section.

Five hot Dubstep tracks

1. Skream ‘Tectonic Plates 01’ Tectonic

2. Kode 9 ‘Sine of the Dub’ Hyperdub

rel="external">3. Burial ‘South London Boroughs’ Hyperdub

4. Ellen Allien & Apparet ‘Metric’ Bpitch Control

5. Digital Mystikz ‘Molten’ Tectonic

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