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

Wu Yen 'Noire EP' (Paper Cranes)

‘Noire’ is the first release from Hi5Ghost under his Wu Yen alias and, in contrast to his dynamite club ammo on labels like Bandulu and Sector 7, it finds him exploring a less upfront production world. Still centred around an acute understanding of bass weight and texture, ’Noire’ is more away-from-the-club than it is front row: there’s a calming, glossy feel to ‘Waterfalls’, a track steeped in hazy piano lines, but equally a positively greazy, sinister edge to the mood on ‘IWH – Soda Water’ that nods to Wu Yen’s firm handle on atmosphere. Even the distorted trap lines on the murky title track make us feel some kinda way. At five tracks long, it does feel as though there could be more, but it’s an impressive first step into new spaces and, in a switch-up in format, is to be released via USB with a free sample pack.

8/10