Browse by Label: TECTONIC (UK)

Artist:	VA
Title:	Tectonic Plates
Label:	TECTONIC (UK)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$20.00
Catalog #:	TEC 001CD

The Tectonic Plates 12"s represent some of the finest artists to hail from recent underground movements; waves that began first in the UK but have now spread worldwide with tidal charge. Earthquake sub-bass and pressure drop B-lines roll under the new rhythmical forms of this music known as "dubstep." It's a soundtrack to life in the new millennium, offering good meditation without spoken guidance. This music is minimal, its sound given all-important space to breathe. Run by Bristol-based dubstep DJ/producer Pinch, this Tectonic label showcase is presented in two forms: as selected tracks from the label's vinyl-only release schedule (CD1); and as a fluid mix (CD2) featuring label highlights alongside forthcoming Tectonic releases and exclusive cuts from the scene's finest producers. This mix is more than a DJ mix though -- all the tracks have been edited and rearranged to flow seamlessly, layered with subtle FX and a background atmospheric -- creating a unique listening experience that stands out to the careful listener. Artists include: Skream, Distance, DQ1, MRK 1, Loefah, Digital Mystikz, Armour, Hijak, DJ Pinch & P Dutty, Moving Ninja, Omen, Cyrus, Headhunter, S.N.O. and Vex'd.

Artist:	DUTTY & DJ PINCH, P
Title:	War Dub b/w Alien Tongue
Label:	TECTONIC (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$10.00
Catalog #:	TEC 001EP

"A mighty first salvo from a new label -- rising from the freshest scene to emerge from the UK in years. Tectonics has spiralled out of the Bristol scene, which is yet another of the urban British centers set to fall domino theory style under the sway of what's becoming endemic -- UK underground or Grime, to coin the much misused zeitgeist term. As ever with most vital music -- it's to brand new talent the label turns first, mysterious figures P Dutty and DJ Pinch toying with the audience's affections for known yet unknown names. 'War Dub' bears ready comparison with the most impressive sub-low-true-dub-steppers around -- think of the Digital Mystikz' gritty, grainy sound system ethic, wearing new digital boots and ready to test any system up to the challenge. The rhythm assault is hard, determined and ready-made for urban soldiers. 'Alien Tongue' opens with spiritual Brazilian berimbau, submarine sonar depth charges and an air of something incredible about to land. The drop can't fail to launch an audience into sub-bass raptures -- awesome minimal, digital bottom-end swoops and a relentless, original flow that just oozes the funk."

Artist:	CYRUS (RANDOM TRIO)
Title:	From The Shadows
Label:	TECTONIC (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$14.50
Catalog #:	TEC 002CD

Emerging from the studio with perfect timing, Tectonic delivers the debut opus from UK-based Random Trio's Cyrus, one of the scene's most dangerously underrated talents. Since last year's Random Trio EP, Cyrus has been working on his studio tan, perfecting a true definition of dubstep with professor-like precision, rising up within the hallowed tutelage of Hatcha's dubplate box, and under the watchful eye of local Croydon peers Digital Mystikz and label head and stylistic brethren, Pinch. In this time, his production skills have improved immeasurably, resulting in the expertly studied rhythm and bass science of From The Shadows. From the kick-stepping and hard-skanking pressure of "Paradise Dub," the gauntlet is laid down to a scene of imitators and dilettantes, strutting onto the floor like a tempered hybrid of Pinch's moody Orientalism and Mala-style polyrhythmic kick drums patterns, this is some serious dancefloor material. Next we're dropped into "Gutter" with death-prodding atmospheres and fathoms of layered sub-bass demanding to be played loud. "Mind Games" pays debt to the rhythmic dub ingenuity of Keith Hudson or Scientist, updated with added subs for a 2007 shockout effect. "Dark Future" steps on it with shuffling whip-crack percussion and a strobing synth line direct from Babylon, while the title track "From The Shadows" brings some relief with lush pads and hollowed hardcore structures harking back to A Guy Called Gerald's seminal Black Street Technology album -- high praise indeed. "The Watcher" is an evolutionary stepper with a tempered restraint, holding back tons of bass pressure until it's required. "Dirt" explores the same blue moods as dubstep's other hero of dark soul, Burial, with mournful chords and echo chamber reverb adding abandoned warehouse space over a swung halfstep beat and next-level bass techniques. This is a remarkably immaculate document of dubstep for 2007 which fans of Burial's hallowed debut or Digital Mystikz will cherish highly.

Artist:	MOVING NINJA
Title:	Shellcode
Label:	TECTONIC (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$10.00
Catalog #:	TEC 002EP

"The second twelve on Bristol's freshest new imprint, Tectonic. 'Shellcode' opens with the sound of a droid being disinterred, slowly and with relish, to the sound of some very sizeable bass stabs. But the feeling is cooled by a swathe of bass which raises up this chilling futurescape into a thing of deep fascination. The groove is determinedly slowed, and therefore tougher and more substantial -- 'Murky' wades in with enough brutal bass -- there's tabla styled congas and an ethereal indo-inflected melody which winds through the tune, all sinewy and limber. There's a sense of continuity here with the berimbau of 'Alien Tongue' from the first Tectonic EP -- new directions for the beat, inside and outside the 'One'. 'Lost Tribe' seems to describe the otherworldly choral haunting which clouds the intro to this storming cut -- there's an ominous texture between the beats which seems to indicate this tune could have been recorded in some unnamed underworld region -- it's a dystopian vision -- confirmed by the righteous bass shockout which propels this heaving brutal dancefloor destroyer."

Artist:	PINCH
Title:	Underwater Dancehall
Label:	TECTONIC (UK)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$20.00
Catalog #:	TEC 003CD

This is the debut full-length release by Bristol's Pinch (Rob Ellis), head of the Tectonic imprint. The dubstep album: a concept still in its early days of existence. In a relatively new genre dominated by vinyl, many artists would not take the plunge into more ambitious territories and be lucky enough to have an outlet to support their endeavors: enter Pinch. Having already garnered a huge amount of success with CD releases in the past (namely the Tectonic Plates compilation and Cyrus artist album), the time was right for Ellis to turn the spotlight on himself for a full-length. But rather than simply string together a compilation of sold-out 12"s and re-edits, Pinch headed back into the studio, gathering vocalists around him and immersing himself in the idea of the album as a format, a concept, a complete vision. The results speak for themselves, setting the bar high and in the process taking dubstep to a whole new level -- leaving budding producers to simply tag along behind him. The first CD features vocal contributions by Juakali, Yolanda, Rudey Lee and Indi Kaur, while the second CD is devoted to instrumental tracks. For the limited edition double vinyl version, eight of the finest cuts are offered in a stripped-down instrumental form.

Artist:	LOEFAH & SKREAM
Title:	28g/Fearless
Label:	TECTONIC (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$10.00
Catalog #:	TEC 003EP

"The Dubstep Anthem of 2005. Already canned by Hatcha, 1xtra's Ras Kwame, Distinction, Youngsta included it to wide acclaim on the latest Tempa mix, Dubstep All Stars Volume 2, and this track just seems to keep cropping up all over the shop -- the blogs are alight at the prospect of this record. Props are in order to Bristol's Tectonics for bringing this music out -- breathtakingly simple, even minimal in its sense of detail, the bass is just so immense here, it fair pins you to the wall. Remorseless progression, with whacked out flanging extra bass over the top for good measure. The deployment of dub effects is kept sparing and as such is all the more effective. 'Fearless' on the flip is all about some advanced low-end science -- keeping it almost exclusively subsonic. Loefah is a central part of the whole Digital Mystikz / Dmz axis, widely regarded as the reigning dons of dubstep, Skream is surfing a huge wave of interest currently, after his Ital 12" brought this superb producer to a wider audience. His latest for Tempa, 'Midnight request line' has even even prompted Dizzee freestyles on Rinse FM, a true sign of how far this instrumental dub for steppas has come. Already enjoying classic tune status -- '28 grams' is the kind of record which leads you to reflect that, finally, we may be witnessing the blossoming of this exciting scene."

Artist:	2562
Title:	Aerial
Label:	TECTONIC (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$14.50
Catalog #:	TEC 004CD

This is the debut full-length release by Dave Huismans aka 2562. After releasing two of the fastest-selling 12"s on Tectonic in 2007, it was a natural step to drop something truly stunning. If you can imagine a perfect marriage between Benga or Skream-style rhythm and bass with Basic Channel soundscapes -- you will realize why everyone is getting so excited about this album. Aerial follows the two-track vinyl teaser Techno Dread/Enforcers which are featured on the CD version, alongside the lead tracks "Channel Two" and "Kameleon," both drawn from the 2007 singles that found their way onto the decks of everyone from Mary Anne Hobbs, Skream, Kode9, Laurent Garnier, and anyone else with their ears primed for heavy bass, deep funk and sublime dub. Aerial ticks all the boxes for a varied, multi-faceted debut, melding genres with a distinctive production style that is smart, inventive and entirely futuristic. Dutch-born, Huismans borrows his name from his Hague home district code "2562" but takes his musical influence from further afield: Detroit, Kingston, Croydon, and Berlin. Huismans' previous incarnations have included the dubbed-out broken-beat of Dogdaze on the Flying High label and more recently as A Made Up Sound -- making serious moves in techno on Shed's Hardwax-affiliated Subsolo imprint. If 2007 was a year for Burial and Pinch, then summer 2008 surely has 2562 written all over it.

Artist:	RANDOM TRIO
Title:	Cyrus
Label:	TECTONIC (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$10.00
Catalog #:	TEC 004EP

"Emerging from under the patronage of the mighty Digital Mystikz, Random Trio have previously self-produced and distributed a white label dubplate style twelve, but here make their full release debut. Four tunes from the hands of the man Cyrus to tempt you here, and the sound that emerges convinces that these guys will definitely be ones to watch for the 2006. Expect further productions from this crew next year and some expansive manoeuvres from their hosts here, DJ Pinch's excellent Tectonic imprint. 'Bounty' is a steadfastly bassy, slow motion skank, leavened by a simple keyboard note and rockstone one-drop drums. 'Prophecy' steals the biscuits for us here, a fat sub-continental flute lays over a breaking drum, until enormous bass throbs, kode9 style arrive and deliver a supple, grooving piece of dub. 'Indian Stomp' further configures dubstep's infatuation with multicultural elements, here a beguiling Indian vocal weaves around the central motif, all rimshots and pent-up explosive energy. 'Troy' channels this force, into sustained almost drone-like notes over delicious continuous bass notes, which leave vapour trails in their wake."

Artist:	OMEN
Title:	Rebellion EP
Label:	TECTONIC (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$10.00
Catalog #:	TEC 005EP

"So we now know 2006 is the year of dubstep. With Loefah and Skream's anthemic '28g' the scene had new champions, and Tectonic continue in real style with the debut 12" from Random Trio's Northern warrior Omen. This is dubstep as it was always meant to be, Photek inspired moody beatplay, stinging synth stabs straight out of Renegade Hardware's toolshed and the atmosphere of a violent Eastern movie. It really doesn't get much better than this -- lead track 'Rebellion' is without a doubt one of the dubstep tunes of the year, with a pace and drive to get those hotties nodding all night long. The flipside falls into faster territory, 'Frontline' uses an acidic pulsating bassline and drives it through aggressive snare hits like an 18-wheeler through a garden party, with closing track 'Aphrodite' making sure we realize the mood here is strictly dark with its distorted horror-movie mood and long deep drones."

Artist:	SKREAM/DISTANCE
Title:	Tectonic Plate 1
Label:	TECTONIC (UK)
Format:	10"
Price:	$10.00
Catalog #:	TEC 006EP

"Tectonic return to the fray with their most anticipated and limited release to date -- complete with ultra slick 10" redesign, housing heavyweight solids from Skream and Distance. Skream drops the soon-to-be-classic 'bahl fwd', a 24 carat O. Jones production with a droning 2 note bassline that even Sunn 0))) would be proud of, coupled with a trademark electro melody arpeggiated to Babylon and back. Distance wins the split though with a muscular riddim driven by powerful subs and a bleached halfstep snare crack punctuated with a lush sitar lick dripping with Eastern mysticism. As ever, Tectonic are truly keeping the standards to an absolute maximum, a must-have for all 'step heads and lovers of forward thinking bassisms."

Artist:	LOEFAH/DIGITAL MYSTIKZ
Title:	Tectonic Plate 3 - System/Molten
Label:	TECTONIC (UK)
Format:	10"
Price:	$10.00
Catalog #:	TEC 008EP

"The latest 10" bomb unloads the goods from Loefah and Digital Mystikz, the DMZ dream team come with some tried and tested dubstep classics. Loefah's 'System' is possibly his catchiest riddim yet, with his trademark sound signatures of sweeping electro riffs and zipped-up halfstep swagger fully in place. Bound to cause damage in the dance, the overt electro influence of 'System' heralds a healthy direction for dubstep which still retains the capacity to soak up decades worth of dub/electronic dancefloor influences. Digital Mystikz' Mala and Coki finally commit another of their ready-made-classic-cuts to wax with 'Molten', spooked synths and a lashing of subbass in fine DMZ tradition."

Artist:	ARMOUR/HIJAK
Title:	Tectonic Plate 4
Label:	TECTONIC (UK)
Format:	10"
Price:	$10.00
Catalog #:	TEC 009EP

This is the fourth in Tectonic's 10" plate series, featuring Hijak (Inta Natty) and Armour (Vex'd). Hijak is comfy with the break and lovely round drums spooked by nightmarish strings, with awesome bass dragged through the dirt. Huge tune. Flip for Armour, who shows that Bristolians are becoming even darker in their predilections. Increasingly drawn to the chaotic drone spaces and dark corners. The drums and feedback will stove your head in like Wolf Eyes in dub uptown -- probably the first doomstep record -- anyone?

Artist:	MOVING NINJA
Title:	Formations
Label:	TECTONIC (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$10.00
Catalog #:	TEC 010EP

Australian duo Moving Ninja first came to dubstep prominence on DJ Pinch's Bristol-based Tectonic label. Today, dubstep now tries to be darker and harder than its rivals, and occasionally, much of the spacious, textural "edgy" sounds are being drowned out, with the prominent exception of Burial, who is a useful reference point for this release though it was recorded long before the Burial hype peaked. Of the four tracks, "Uranium" and "Kemancheh" are the pinnacle -- the kind of intricate excursions that would surely be forsaken if all dubstep were exclusively dancefloor-oriented.

Artist:	CYRUS (RANDOM TRIO)
Title:	From The Shadows LP Disc 1
Label:	TECTONIC (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$10.00
Catalog #:	TEC 011EP

First of 3 12"'s which will make up the debut album from Cyrus (Random Trio). One of the substep scene's most dangerously underrated talents. Since last year's transmission on the Random Trio E.P Cyrus has been working on his studio tan, perfecting a true definition of dubstep with professor like precision, rising up within the hallowed tutelage of Hatcha's dubplate box, and under the watchful eye of local Croydon peers Digital Mystikz and label head or stylistic brethren, Pinch. In this time his production skills have improved immeasurably, resulting in the expertly studied rhythm and bass science of From the Shadows...the gauntlet is laid down to a scene of imitators and dilettantes, strutting onto the floor like a tempered hybrid of Pinch's moody orientalism and Mala style polyrhythmic kick drums patterns, this is some serious dancefloor material. Tracks on this 12": "Gutter" with deathprodding atmospheres and fathoms of layered subbass demanding to be played loud; "Mind games": pays debts to the rhythmic dub ingenuity of Keith Hudson or Scientist, updated with added subs for a 2007 shockout effect. This is a remarkably immaculate document of dubstep for 2007 which fans of Burial's hallowed debut or Digital Mystikz moody steppers bass weight will cherish highly.

Artist:	CYRUS (RANDOM TRIO)
Title:	From The Shadows LP Disc 3
Label:	TECTONIC (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$10.00
Catalog #:	TEC 013EP

Third of 3 12"s which will make up the debut album from Cyrus (Random Trio). "Fans of serious bottom-end and darkside dub vibes will not be disappointed here, with Cyrus clearly making his defnition of dystopian dubstep apparent. 'Dark Future' rolls in laden with impending dread, utilising a nasty sci-fi techno riff to signify his intentions, before skanking out with a sweetly syncopated steppers beat while tight riffin subs carry the melody. Cyrus fully explores a more refinied darkside on the flip with the subtle jazz influence of 'Crying game' allowing a lonely sax line to creep into the mix alongside splashing hi-hats, before title track draws very reasonable comparisons to A.G.C.G's Black Secret Technology, by hollowing out the post hardcore/pre-jungle breaks but filling the vacuum with bass and the warmth of jazz optimism, walking a tight precipice between cheese and greatness but thankfully falling very much onto the right side for it's subtle restraint and application."

Artist:	DQ1
Title:	Gud Money/Structive
Label:	TECTONIC (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$10.00
Catalog #:	TEC 014EP

Darqwan is one of the founding figures of the dubstep scene. "Gud Money" should be familiar to those of you who've checked the mix accompanying the Tectonic Plates double CD set. This is a true bubblers tune with a mammoth low end, fashioned from essential elements. "Structive" has claps and luxuriant synth washes, topped with orgasmic sighs and electroid drops -- utilizing wide open dub space to amplify the infeasibly large, heavyweight bass threat you would expect from Tectonic.

Artist:	2562
Title:	Channel Two/Circulate
Label:	TECTONIC (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$10.00
Catalog #:	TEC 015EP

After stealing the most praise away from veteran greats such as Substance and Stephen Brown on the last Soloaction remix EP, "A Made Up Sound," appears here as 2562 to resounding and stunning effect. Cleverly uniting elements from four/four Moritz-influenced dub techno, deep danceable dubstep and the less fractured end of broken beat, this 12" is already finding favor with all the usual suspects and further opens the gate for dubstep to finally achieve its innate rhythmic destiny. Killer.

Artist:	PEVERELIST
Title:	Infinity Is Now/Junktion
Label:	TECTONIC (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$11.00
Catalog #:	TEC 019EP

West country boy Peverelist returns home to Bristol's forefront dubstep label. What has set Peverelist's productions and DJ sets aside is his adroit blend of deep Bristolian sound system heritage with a more European, specifically Berliner take on the question of bass weight. These are two bumping joints of bass line destruction, stepping lightly around the four-four and sounding like the perfect fusion of dub and techno. Support from all the usual suspects -- MASSIVE.

Artist:	2562
Title:	Techno Dread/Enforcers
Label:	TECTONIC (UK)
Format:	12"
Price:	$11.00
Catalog #:	TEC 020EP

2562 limbers up with a stellar 12". The galloping, Ritalin-infested skanker "Techno Dread" harnesses the exuberance of Mala's forays into four/four dancefloor ruffage, the depth and groove of recent Skull Disco and the smoked piquancy of Deepchord/Berlin dubness. "Enforcers" displays brittle but not-quite broken drums illustrating a new reign... a new strain of garridge reborn. Warmth comes in the shape of a full-force, endlessly inventive low-end line. Dubstep for dancing -- rush the floor!

Artist:	2562
Title:	Aerial
Label:	TECTONIC (UK)
Format:	2LP
Price:	$18.00
Catalog #:	TEC 021LP

Double LP version. If you can imagine a perfect marriage between Benga or Skream-style rhythm and bass with Basic Channel soundscapes -- you will realize why everyone is getting so excited about this album. Aerial ticks all the boxes for a varied, multi-faceted debut, melding genres with a distinctive production style that is smart, inventive and entirely futuristic. Dutch-born, Huismans borrows his name from his Hague home district code "2562" but takes his musical influence from further afield: Detroit, Kingston, Croydon, and Berlin. Huismans' previous incarnations have included the dubbed-out broken-beat of Dogdaze on the Flying High label and more recently as A Made Up Sound -- making serious moves in techno on Shed's Hardwax-affiliated Subsolo imprint. If 2007 was a year for Burial and Pinch, then summer 2008 surely has 2562 written all over it.

Previous Page Index of Labels Next Page

Artist:	MARK ONE/DQ1
Title:	Slang/Wear The Crown
Label:	TECTONIC (UK)
Format:	10"
Price:	$10.00
Catalog #:	TEC 007EP