October: 10 dubstep & grime releases you need to hear this month

Gundam 'Waifu' (Self-release)

Sweetboy, wifey-grime specialist Gundam has worked hard to elevate his re-fixing skills to a level he feels confident enough to explore in album format. ‘Waifu’, at 15-tracks long, follows 2015’s ‘Nyoubou’ and a recent debut for London taste-makers Goon Club Allstars, and feels like a level up from both. The giddy, sugar-rush of opener ‘Oh Girl’ is a good insight into what’s to come, although the bright textures on tracks ‘Just Like U’ and ‘Luv Me Lady’ tap more into the Soulection palette than they do up-front grime. It’s not all 8-bar chops either: there’s the tripped-out funk of ‘Evening Glow’, chiptune heartbreak on ‘Heaven Sent’ and bonkers calypso on ‘Bikini Beach’. It’s not your average album, but ‘Waifu’ is the work of a producer intent on doing his own thing – and doing it really well.

8/10

Toasty 'Bump' (Circadian Rhythms)

it's been 18 months since Circadian Rhythms put out its inaugural release, Plata's essential white label 12" 'Kru'. But this new EP from legendary producer Toasty may be even harder to follow. Shadowy and unnerving, ‘Metal’ consists of Toasty's first original work since 2009. Of the three new tracks here, our doozy is ‘Bump’, a percussive workout that journeys through spells of drone-like atmosphere with winding melodies that wouldn’t feel out of place on the score for a re-booted Drive soundtrack, only gullier.

9/10

Lixo feat Trim 'Writer’s Block/Relearned' (GETME!)

GETME! label boss Lixo cuts a super-interesting figure here. Enlisting Trim on ‘Writer’s Block’ is a bold move, but one that pays off as he navigates through a network of warm, tribal bass sounds and fluttery, off-beat melodies that feel both complex but strangely accessible. B-side ‘Relearn’ is equally deft even without Trim, too, as we’re given the space to admire what an accomplished producer Lixo now is.

8/10

Spooky 'No Days Off EP' (Ghost House Records)

A flurry of Spooky releases have punctuated grime’s summer so far, but ‘No Days Off’ is the first for his own Ghost House imprint since 2014. Chopping up booming trap breaks, classic jungle samples (listen out for a demented flip of The Ganja Kru’s ‘Super Sharp Shooter’ on ‘Rest In Peace’) and scorching pressure, it's a relentless EP. Our tip is the menacing ‘Creepin’, with its crunchy, 808 trap patterns and grand, orchestral synths that cut through the crud like shards of glass.

7/10

Joker '16 Bit EP' (Kapsize)

The 16-bit world of classic arcade games has always had a strong pull on Joker’s music, and here he offers up an entire EP dedicated to that era. From the glitchy thrill of contorted opener ‘G Shift’, Joker still retains a sense of cinematic scope, too, which is further increased by the widescreen feel of ‘Highway’, a track defined by – you guessed it – a swathe of 16-bit samples. Third track ‘Night Life’ feels like it could genuinely soundtrack a loading scene from classic Megadrive game Streets Of Rage, while the downtempo funk of ‘Glass Hearts’ is positively manic and exciting. Bonkers, but great fun.

8/10

Sukh Knight 'Beast/Nightcrawler' (White Peach Records)

White Peach is on a roll, with OG producer Sukh Knight the latest to join its ranks. Toeing the line between grime and dubstep, Knight’s sound hasn’t evolved a great deal over the years, but it’s never needed to, as this new record testifies. Scurrying bass sounds and classic snare rolls act as the basic template for A-side ‘Beast’, as the beat huffs and puffs rather than takes hold, while B-side ‘Nightcrawler’ is pure danger. Squarewave bass tones buzz in-and-out with menace and the claps hit home on every bar. It might not be a complex formula, but Sukh Knight has nailed the art of writing bangers.

7/10

District 'Drowsy/Street Knowledge' (Chestplate)

District returns to Chestplate with a double-single. ‘Drowsy’, a woozy, aggressive beat that charges forward with steely, chiselled-out bass tones and angry, demented flow, has been doing the rounds for the best part of a year, while ‘Street Knowledge’, a palette cleanser of sorts by comparison, taps into the fuzzy, minimalist pressure that District is revered for. Very much for the heads, but an ace 12” nonetheless.

8/10

Sorrow 'Arisen EP' (Shinigrim)

Killer new record from cult producer, Sorrow, here. ‘Arisen’ features four tracks, all of which nod more toward dubstep than they do the fiery grime sounds he’s renowned for alongside sparring partner Asa. Opener ‘Stockyards’ is as industrial as its name suggests, all clattering percussion and faded bass tones, while ‘Projekts’ deals in Keysound-esque rollage, albeit offset by cloaked atmospherics and dreamy vocal FX. Our tip is the shadowy title track, which floats along with more of a classical dubstep lean and gorgeous vocal loops.

8/10

Lost 'Far East/Submarines' (HENCH Recordings)

Lost returns to HENCH for the first time since 2013, and his comeback certainly feels like a welcome one. A-side ‘Far East’ is trademark Lost fare — think whirring, cranked-up pressure and metallic bass shades — although faded vocals that seem to zoom in-and-out of focus are matched by cosmic melody patterns, giving the track a good dose of emotional weight. On the flip, ‘Submarines’ feels equipped to do plenty of damage in the club, as searing rhythm, bruising drums and menacing squarewave rumbles kick up a proper storm.

7/10

JL Sanders 'Red State EP' (Ghost House Records)

Dutch producer JL Sanders completes a busy month for Ghost House with an absolute screamer of an EP in ‘Red State’. Fans of ‘The Undertaker’ (one of the biggest grime instrumentals of 2014, a track he co-produced with Trends) should rejoice in the straight-up armageddon of the title track, which deals in super low-end, artillery-like grime. It comes complete with a raucous vocal from London emcee Kwam, and booming remixes from emerging producer Jook and label boss Spooky. This one's not for the faint-hearted.

7/10