(Foreigndub)

As my friends will attest, I have turned a corner, musically speaking, in recent months. I’ve always had a passion for music in all its forms, especially the electronic variety, but have begun to focus more on learning about areas I haven’t really given as much of a go as I should have. Top of the list is hip hop, followed by indie/rock, and among others, and in light of this review, drum and bass.

The DNBBQ is one of Sydney’s most-loved parties, with an intimate inner city venue, cheap beers, great friends, and of course wicked music. This 1st compilation put together by the Foreigdub crew (who run the DNBBQ parties) and is designed to give an idea of how an afternoon/evening at the Abercrombie would run. It also showcases production work by some of Australia and New Zealand’s leading hip hop/drum and bass artists. When I first picked up the CD, I was expecting DnB from start to finish, but was refreshed when I heard the laid back 100 bpm (or thereabouts) of track 1. The CD moved nicely from afternoon beats to late evening, aggressive DnB, but it never felt awkward.

My primary disappointment with the CD was that it was unmixed. But that said, it would be a tricky business mixing the tracks they’ve included due to the massive leaps in BPM, as well as significant tonal changes throughout. Bar three or so tracks that didn’t really do it for me, this album is one that I would be more than happy to play at an afternoon barbie, or early Sunday morning. There’s just something about tracks like King Wrasse’s “Dela Jageur”, Vice Versa’s “Where’s It At” and Ritual’s “Halls” (tracks 9 through 11) which maintain a wonderfully rich, funky feel, but also have a bpm in the DnB range. So whilst they’re pretty fast, tempo-wise, you could just as easily sip a beer and gobble some snags or jump around a dancefloor going crazy. I really like tracks that can have multiple personalities.

At the beginning of the CD we’ve got more down tempo tracks such as the opener “Feel Styles” by Budspells featuring Hyjack. And what a great opener it is. Great bassline and mashed up hip hop beat, some awesome jazz-inspired sax sounds, and of course the laid-back flowing MC styles courtesy of Hyjack. Next up is “Missing You” by King Wrasse Featuring MC Hardkaur, which begins with some crisp clean, laid back hats and clicks, with the sound of shouting children in the background. The bassline eases itself in nicely before Hardkaur gets on with her business. Alf’s “2AMSnails” is one of my picks on the CD with kind of eerie, distorted guitars, which hint at exotic Indian-esque influences. Beats are mashed up and cleverly arranged to give a feeling of flow, while they retain the sensation that they’re sitting on the edge of being out of time. The melodies are cut up and shaken up throughout the track and a distorted trumpet sound adds to the eeriness. All I’ll say about Semper-fi and Halfcast’s “The Overmoment” is big bass and big beats! A little more electronic sounding than the previous tunes.

Great CD, not so much a fan of a couple of the early tracks (5 and 6), which have some influence from ska or, alternatively, sipping rum from coconut shells on the Caribbean beaches, but that’s just me, and I’m sure others will enjoy! Tracks 12 to 14 are a little more jungle, with raga vocals over the Ruffneck Souljahs’s track “Ganjaman”. I’ll admit the harder, more aggressive stuff at the end doesn’t suit me as much as the rest of the CD, though the live version of K-Oscillate’s “Hazard” sure does get the juices flowing! All tracks are articulately produced and just go to prove that our underground scenes are doing big things. Check out DNBBQ the CD or the party for something a little from left field. Great CD.