|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2LP
|
|
TEMPA 025LP
|
Double LP version. Each plain, unprinted inner sleeve is wrapped by hand in custom-printed barricade tape created by London design studio Give Up Art, sealing in the discs and making each pressing unique. Horsepower Productions and their ever-present head honcho Benny Ill, revered in underground music circles as among the key early innovators of dubstep, return with their much-anticipated fourth album, Crooks, Crime & Corruption. An ambitious and varied work, it finds the group expanding their horizons and broadening their sound palette while maintaining the unparalleled production chops that first made them such a force in the scene. Their pioneering early singles sought to strip UK garage of its slickness, adopting a stripped-down, dubbed-out approach that emphasized roughness and powerful bass. This was music for real heads, not commercial dancefloors. When You Hold Me/Let's Dance launched the seminal Tempa label in 2000, and even the term "dubstep" was first popularized in a 2002 XLR8R cover story about Horsepower. Their 2002 debut album In Fine Style (TEMPA 001CD) stands as one of the finest documents to emerge from the UK underground, while To The Rescue (TEMPA 003CD), which followed in 2004, saw the group play a vital role in shaping the direction of the music they had made possible. Crooks, Crime & Corruption is certainly the most sonically varied and rhythmically diverse Horsepower album yet. If previous Horsepower records were defined in part by a commitment to darkness, then Crooks, Crime & Corruption sees a certain amount of light emerging through the cracks. Just check the summer BBQ vibes of "Bak 2 NY" or the balmy shuffle of "Kuriosity.'" At the other end of the spectrum lie the sticky weed paranoia and industrial clank of "Ruf Justice," all gunfire and sirens over punishing sub-bass. "Good Ole Dayz" and "Justify" -- originally released together as a 12" in 2011 (TEMPA 059EP) -- both appear here in new versions. "Good Ole Dayz" marries dubstep wobble with an explosion of color, while the decidedly psychedelic "Justify" (a collaboration with guitarist Harry Keyworth) falls somewhere between Hawaiian surf and Morricone Western. Immaculately constructed and immaculately realized, Crooks, Crime & Corruption draws from numerous facets of the UK underground and further afield for a compelling, wholly immersive journey. Features Orson on "GBU."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
TEMPA 025CD
|
Horsepower Productions and their ever-present head honcho Benny Ill, revered in underground music circles as among the key early innovators of dubstep, return with their much-anticipated fourth album, Crooks, Crime & Corruption. An ambitious and varied work, it finds the group expanding their horizons and broadening their sound palette while maintaining the unparalleled production chops that first made them such a force in the scene. Their pioneering early singles sought to strip UK garage of its slickness, adopting a stripped-down, dubbed-out approach that emphasized roughness and powerful bass. This was music for real heads, not commercial dancefloors. When You Hold Me/Let's Dance launched the seminal Tempa label in 2000, and even the term "dubstep" was first popularized in a 2002 XLR8R cover story about Horsepower. Their 2002 debut album In Fine Style (TEMPA 001CD) stands as one of the finest documents to emerge from the UK underground, while To The Rescue (TEMPA 003CD), which followed in 2004, saw the group play a vital role in shaping the direction of the music they had made possible. Crooks, Crime & Corruption is certainly the most sonically varied and rhythmically diverse Horsepower album yet. If previous Horsepower records were defined in part by a commitment to darkness, then Crooks, Crime & Corruption sees a certain amount of light emerging through the cracks. Just check the summer BBQ vibes of "Bak 2 NY" or the balmy shuffle of "Kuriosity.'" At the other end of the spectrum lie the sticky weed paranoia and industrial clank of "Ruf Justice," all gunfire and sirens over punishing sub-bass. "Good Ole Dayz" and "Justify" -- originally released together as a 12" in 2011 (TEMPA 059EP) -- both appear here in new versions. "Good Ole Dayz" marries dubstep wobble with an explosion of color, while the decidedly psychedelic "Justify" (a collaboration with guitarist Harry Keyworth) falls somewhere between Hawaiian surf and Morricone Western. Immaculately constructed and immaculately realized, Crooks, Crime & Corruption draws from numerous facets of the UK underground and further afield for a compelling, wholly immersive journey. Features Orson on "GBU."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
12"
|
|
TEMPA 059EP
|
This 12" from Horsepower Productions represents their most current output while also providing a tantalizing glimpse of their fourth album. This 12" is something a little different from Benny Ill and Matt HP. Both tracks are rooted in dubstep -- containing its trademark shuffling hi-hats, backbeat snare, bass -- but never ones to be pigeonholed, Horsepower continue to push the envelope here, bringing their hip-hop influence to the fore. For fans of DJ Shadow, Mr. Scruff, Kid Koala, Herbaliser, Bonobo, etc.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
12"
|
|
TEMPA 058EP
|
The Lost Tapes EP is released as part of the Tempa Ltd series, housed in a limited edition, numbered, foil-blocked sleeve. The early Tempa catalog, from 2001-2003, is synonymous with the Horsepower Productions sound. The Lost Tapes EP is a 4-track collection of high grade Horsepower 2-step/early-era dubstep originals and remixes from that time, destined for release on Tempa. Before release, the DAT tapes went missing. The tapes were eventually found, and the choicest cuts re-edited and digitally restored by Benny Ill.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
3LP
|
|
TEMPA 017LP
|
|
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
TEMPA 017CD
|
Horsepower Productions return to Tempa with their third album; a bold and intrepid Quest For The Sonic Bounty. Horsepower Productions are dubstep's foundational producers responsible for the now classic, early scene-defining tracks "Gorgon Sound" and "Classic Deluxe"and for dubstep's first LPs -- the revered In Fine Style (TEMPA 001CD) and To The Rescue (TEMPA 003CD). Quest For The Sonic Bounty is Horsepower's stunning return LP, their first in six years. If you were to unearth the flourishing dubstep tree you'd find Horsepower at its roots. Their debut album was the first LP to be released on Tempa, and it was the press release for In Fine Style back in 2002 that first gave the fledgling genre its name -- and the cover feature in XLR8R (July/Aug '02) that first used the term in print and immortalized the name. Horsepower are the revered, ground-zero catalysts of the sound which is now capturing the imagination of the new rave generation. Originally an 8-strong collective, featuring amongst others Lev Jnr, Nassis, Simon D, The Culprit and Jay King, the current incarnation of Horsepower includes Matt HP aka Lev Jnr, Nassis, and Jay King with the indomitable Benny Ill at the helm. The quest for the elusive sonic bounty begins with tentative steps in the rain and journeys over land and across the seven seas, all the while weaving a rich, musical tapestry. The pulsating, staccato bass line of "Mexican Slayride" and its tale of a band of mercenaries challenging a despotic bandit overlord gives way to the epic voodoo chronicle of "22" -- witch-doctor bones rattling beneath the distant drums in this dramatic tale of the mysteries of the Caribbean. "Water" tells the story of a scorched and war-ravaged Earth, where power over the survivors is held by he who controls the water. The two tracks featured on Horsepower Productions' most recent 12" for Tempa "Kingstep" and "Damn It" make a re-appearance here, having been revamped and extended specifically for this album. The penultimate track is a remix of "Exercising" -- a track from Lee "Scratch" Perry's album The Mighty Upsetter, and it's dubstep at its best: deep, dark and moving. Just wait for those violins! The remix takes us to India, Jamaica and beyond; rising up beyond the clouds of the heavenly mountain, sacred instruments play us along our spiritual journey. The album is wrapped up by the hauntingly beautiful "Poison Wine." For those wanting a pleasant coffee table album, be warned Quest For The Sonic Bounty is a rigorous aural and physical experience. When it's finished with you, you will understand that their unerring quest, carving new tributaries and exploring far-flung lands, is indeed what creates our very own sonic bounty.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
12"
|
|
TEMPA 042EP
|
Horsepower Productions is widely credited alongside El-B as the founders of dubstep, and Damn It/Kingstep is a heritage release that raids stylings and samples from dub and desi of the past to bring them to a new generation. "Damn It" is granddaddy dub conceived in 1960 and incubated for today. "Kingstep" is punctuated with syncopated drums and a regal half-step bass pattern. The riddim progresses with the strength which only a warrior that has earned the many stripes of Horsepower could exude.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
TEMPA 001CD
|
Originally released in 2002 on the Tempa label. The incarnation of Horsepower Productions on this release includes original members Benny Ill, Nasis and Lev JNR and In Fine Style has been hailed as one of the first true dubstep records. Nasis has collaborated with Rhyme Time and Benny Ill has been an active producer under various guises for over a decade, including the dub-laced sounds of Bill & Ben. Horsepower Productions' sound is impeccably produced, and draws influences from UK garage, Detroit techno, dub, broken-beats, reggae, D&B, funk, soul, kung-fu films and much more. DJ support for this album has been as varied as its influences, with plays from Ross Allen, Zed Bias, Attica Blues, Norman Jay, The Stanton Warriors, Pay As U Go and many more. As well as their releases on Tempa, Horsepower Productions have also released tracks and remixes on Turn U On, Greensleeves, Big Dada, East West and Vertical Drop. A hidden classic from some original dubstep mavericks.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
TEMPA 003CD
|
Horsepower Productions' second full-length album, originally released in 2004 on the Tempa label. To The Rescue sees the crew expand their grime/UK garage/dubstep palate for an eclectic, insouciant, dub/two-step glitch journey. These tracks defy generic dance stereotypes, with plenty of random samples, shadowy vocal snippets, horns, crickets, looped guitar, and of course, deep, menacing sub-bass to act as mortar to the diverse elements. This record, in addition to their debut was and continues to be a huge influence on dubstep producers such as Skream, Benga, Digital Mystikz, Kode 9 and countless others. Get your hands on a classic and understand the deepest roots of dubstep, garage and beyond. Includes a remix by TGS.
|
|
|
|