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2x12"
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BLACKBOX 034LP
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2x12" version. Following heavy demand and after the dubstep community voted it the best album of 2013, above the likes of Mala in Cuba, a limited run vinyl version of Author's Forward Forever is now released to complement the CD & digital release. First finding a home on Pinch's Tectonic imprint in 2011, Author have since spent time developing their sound to incorporate a more natural-feeling, organic vibe. Featuring guest vocalists ranging from UK hip-hop heavyweights Jehst And Stig of the Dump to dread poet Rider Shafique and reggae star Dan Man, the record builds and expands on their accomplished debut, presenting material that is quite at home on a dancefloor, but with sensibilities that translate perfectly outside of the club environment. This approachability is well-represented by their highly polished live PA, which they've previously toured extensively across the UK and Europe -- including headline sets at the Outlook and Dimensions festivals, with which the pair are closely associated. As individual producers, both possess impressive pedigree -- Ruckspin serving as the producer and engineer for the acclaimed Submotion Orchestra, while J. Sparrow released his solo debut LP on Tectonic in 2010 and has recently added a 12" on Mala's Deep Medi Muzik to his increasingly strong back catalog.
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12"
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BLKBXXX 012EP
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Gantz drops his most anticipated dubplate via Black Box, flipped with a formidable remix courtesy of Thelem. "U Won't Mind" is instantly recognizable as the work of Gantz, with his incessant, chopped vocals, counterintuitive rhythmic switches and dystopian sonic aesthetic. Stop-start beats, pushy sub-bass and cavernous laser shots combine to activate the body but disorient the brain. Thelem fires the track into space with his sci-fi slanted remix -- cavernous bass drops, computerized FX and nagging AI vocals turn Gantz's original into a Y3K dub anthem.
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CD
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BLACKBOX 033CD
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First introduced to the world via their self-titled 2011 debut, Author return with their follow-up, Forward Forever. A collaboration between friends and fellow Leeds-residents Ruckspin and J. Sparrow, Author is an outlet for the two producers to explore deeper, more soulful paths than the tougher approaches for which their solo careers are known. First finding a home on Pinch's Tectonic imprint in 2011, Author have since spent time developing their sound to incorporate a more natural-feeling, organic vibe on Forward Forever. Featuring guest vocalists ranging from UK hip-hop heavyweights Jehst and Stig Of The Dump to reggae stars Rider Shafique and Dan Man, the record arguably offers a more complete listening experience than the debut, presenting material that is ostensibly dubstep but in a format that should appeal to a broader audience through hints of Cinematic Orchestra and Bonobo. This approachability translates to their highly-polished live PA, which they've previously toured extensively across the UK and Europe -- including headline sets at the Outlook and Dimensions festivals, with which the pair are closely associated. As individual producers, both possess impressive pedigree -- Ruckspin serving as the producer and engineer for the acclaimed Submotion Orchestra live band, while J. Sparrow released his solo debut LP on Tectonic in 2010 and has recently added a 12" on Mala's Deep Medi Muzik to his increasingly strong back catalog.
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2x12"
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BLKBXXX 011EP
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Matt-U drops his definitive release via Black Box, showcasing a different side of his production, from the laser-guided ordinance of the title-track, to the murky depths of Killawatt collab "The Strangers," via the furious breakstep of "Backwards." This will be the first release in the Black Box XXX series to feature full artwork, as it develops from a stealth-themed DJ tool imprint into a fully-fledged label in its own right.
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12"
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BLKBXXX 010EP
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Scene stalwarts in their native British Columbia, brothers and production partnership Daega Sound have taken the dubstep template and injected into it a fusion mix of electronic music DNA. "State of Mind" draws as much on '90s hardcore as it does techno, D&B, and electro. Rushing synths build pressure before the sudden zero-g inertia drop of percussive movement and sub-undulation. Daega Sound cover slightly more conventional territory on "Fox Wing," drenching strident half-step in thick layers of techy reverbed texture.
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12"
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BLACKBOX 031EP
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"The Life You Chose" was the darkside highlight of DJ Madd's album from early 2012, with heavy support on dubplate making it one of his most in-demand tunes. Of the notable DJs giving it regular airtime, Distance liked the track so much, he offered to give it the remix treatment. Finally available on wax, the full glory of Madd's horror-laden, Hellraiser-sampling smasher can now be properly appreciated, coupled with Distance's rock-hard rework on the flip for maximum effect.
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2x12"
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BLACKBOX 029EP
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Black Box has compiled Biome's most developed and complete release yet -- the Two Way EP -- showcasing the breadth and variety in his music. "Reality" is a dazzling mix of sublime bell chimes, lofty breaks and searing mid-range, before moving into "Inner Mind," a lush ensemble of emotive strings & pads, cruising drums, and delicate piano and vocal. "Charged" features taut dynamics, where tense, unresolved textures and prodding synth hits flow over a tight structure of beats & bass. "Two Way" is a futuristic dub excursion.
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12"
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BLACKBOX 030EP
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Commodo and Lurka delivered one of the hottest 12"s of 2011 on Black Box #15, and they return for release #30 to stretch and then break the accepted boundaries of dubstep orthodoxy. From the shattered jazz-funk and 4D percussion of "Capisce?" to the nerve-shredding audio contortionism of "Glue Sniff Riddim," this 12" sees two of the UK's leading electronic musicians produce one of the most exciting records of the year.
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12"
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BLKBXXX 009EP
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This latest drop for the stealth-tech XXX imprint sees Killawatt team up with Thelem to deliver two spacious rollers. "Kaba" taps into the current flavor for tough, tribal riddims, with cascading kicks, pressurized subs and tech accents combining to make the soundtrack to a high-speed late-night metro trip. "Point of No Return" inverts the energy levels, mixing seismic bass drops and taut atmospherics to create an auditory black hole, bending sounds as they cross the event horizon.
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2x12"
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BLACKBOX 025EP
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Black Box presents the double EP project Making Simple Things Complex by Data. "Fall of Phaeton" is a reflective piece that weaves muted elements of tr*p-h*p and lush electronics over a synthetic garage framework. On "Laid Bare," soulful vocals are skillfully balanced against rough-edged grunge riffs, clattering drums and acidic motifs. The machine-code ambience of "The Construct" is swiftly dissected by razor-sharp electro beats and mutating sub-sonic themes, which carry through into "Disconnection," where agile halfstep drums and hectic bongo licks propel a rough-edged bassline.
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12"
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BLACKBOX 026EP
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Matt-U has had essential dubstep releases across such auspicious labels as Osiris, Wheel & Deal, and of course, Black Box. His latest 12" is the culmination of that work, focusing his sonic beam to produce two pieces of white-hot 140 pressure. "Wipe Em Out" is pure swagger, pairing hard-swung halfstep beats with a sick, low-frequency laser bass. "Uncontrolled" is cut from the same cloth, with stuttering, coughing subs underpinning everything; a mixture of punchy drums, ominous FX and digital dub trickery.
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12"
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BLACKBOX 021EP
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"Deeply" sees DJ Madd team up with Baltimore resident Heidi Thomas aka Lady Maroo to create his best vocal track to date -- low-slung humming bass and sparkling arpeggios framing the lush vox. "Riginal" on the flip is classic Madd ruffness; offbeat bongoes, haunting pads and hard-smacking halfstep drums swallowed by the pitch-black bass chasm.
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12"
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BLKBXXX 007EP
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TMSV has readied a split EP of collaborations with rising stars DJ Madd and June Miller, released on the Covert Ops division of Black Box. The first 12" features TMSV's collab with DJ Madd titled "Difference," a heady mix of shock'n'awe synths and dub FX swirling above a combo of rock-hard half-step and fidgety percussion. J:Kenzo liked the track so much he went on to rework it, adding his particular brand of spacious production and bulging bassweight into the mix.
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12"
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BLKBXXX 008EP
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TMSV teams up with June Miller for the second part of his collab EP on Black Box. "Ghost Ship" features mutating laser-bass hemmed in by strings and pads. "Lost Cause" creeps further into the shadows, with dub techniques applied to modern sound-sets, layering icy textures over halfstep beats and solid bass. Each record in the XXX series comes with black labels in a black paper sleeve -- cut as a 10" on 12" vinyl, all artist & track info is etched into the record itself.
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12"
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BLACKBOX 020EP
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Black Box presents the first solo 12" of proper Headhunter material in some time. "Clone" features mechanized rhythms, rushing white noise and relentless bass drops, while "Projector" scatters fidgeting arpeggios across a purely synthetic soundscape. Both tunes have received exclusive weekly plays on Youngsta's show on Rinse FM, with recent support from Kryptic Minds and Icicle.
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12"
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BLKBXXX 006EP
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Killawatt presents "Sidewinder," which blends swirling, shimmering strings and ethno-percussion with tough drums and swooping bass, taking dubstep's halfstep orthodoxy and flipping it to build a high-velocity roller. Ipman turns in an irreverent rework, turning cruising tribal dubstep into a 140bpm jungle throwback. Each record in the XXX series comes with black labels in a black paper sleeve. All artist & track info is etched into the record itself at the time of mastering.
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12"
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BLKBXXX 005EP
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Two huge dubplates served up by the fast-growing Black Box camp, further cementing their reputation as dubstep's go-to label. "Lament" was originally featured on Phaeleh's near-classic-status Fallen Light album, re-rubbed to bombastic effect by the new hot boy, DJ Madd. In exchange, the Bristol beatmeister delivers a floor-quaking take on the new-school dungeon anthem, "Pitfall."
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12"
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BLACKBOX 018EP
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LAS' "Power Surge" channels both the earthier, more vital tones of Mala and the techier aesthetics of Icicle's productions, or Youngsta's DJ sets for Rinse FM. Built 'round a lean beat of razor-sharp hats & snares, LAS constructs a heavy roller. On the flip, Desto turns the track completely inside-out, inverting the beats & bass to create a vacuum-formed Y3K electro-warper. Heavy support from Rinse FM DJs including N-Type & Youngsta, and repeat plays on XFM from Mary Anne Hobbs.
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12"
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BLKBXXX 004EP
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With consistent support across Rinse FM, Manchester tastemakers Biome embody the current dungeon dubstep renaissance. Fierce kick-drums perforate the monolithic bass vacuum, where distorted space-time is squeezed by gravity-shifting synth-work and dramatic pianos. Support from Youngsta, Kryptic Minds, N-Type and DJ Madd. One-sided release.
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12"
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BLACKBOX 017EP
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Benton returns to release a true depth-charge on Black Box. "Skeptics" follows the intro of cryptic vocal samples with a tightly-wound combo of neck-snapping drums and cavernous bass emanations. On the flip, Benton raises the tension levels with "Thermo-Stellar," with mystic soundscapes ripped apart by the menacing, snarling bass. Limited stock.
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2x12"
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BLACKBOX 014EP
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DJ Madd's "Blank Space" has been a permanent fixture on DJ Youngsta's weekly Rinse FM show with halfstep drums, subterranean bass and sci-fi synth-work. "Pitfall" takes things deeper still, as Madd teases the most basic elements out into a hypnotic dub version. "Murder 96" taps into the possibilities of 140bpm jungle to create a surefire dancefloor weapon while Madd teams up with Phaeleh for "Ritual," filled with lush string arrangements and vocal snippets matched by growling subs, hard-smacking snares and searing mids.
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12"
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BLACKBOX 008EP
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DJ Madd is fast becoming one of dubstep's stars, receiving DJ support from the likes of Gilles Peterson, Rinse FM's DJ Youngsta, and more. "Dub Marine" became something of an anthem when it was released in early 2010 with its rolling drums and raw, junglist bass, but has been revised by Kryptic Minds into a dubby killer with stripped-back percussion, tense atmospherics and slabs of pure sub pressure. "Good Old Days" showcases his style perfectly -- minimal yet funky.
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12"
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BLACKBOX 015EP
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Commodo and Lurka have so far enjoyed A-list support from Mala, Distance, Youngsta, N-Type and many more. Black Box is extremely excited to have signed a killer 12" of collaborations by the two producers. "Airtight" opens with a taut intro of dry percussion and droning ceramic pads, which leads into a drop of thick LFO-ridden synth-bass, tightly-programmed beats and sly flourishes of pads & FX. "Gassin" unleashes a variety of technoid basslines, stabbing metallic mids and deceptively deft drum programming.
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12"
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BLACKBOX 016EP
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Taken from the Kryptic Minds' sophomore dubstep LP, the Youngsta collaboration "Arcane" has been a favorite of many. Based around a rolling 808 groove and laced with the Detroit vibes and techy flourishes that are the trademark Kryptic sound, "Arcane" takes the listener on a late-night ride through darkened subways and deserted moonlit streets. Scuba reworks "Can't Sleep," converting the powerful groove into a pacy 4/4 format around which he arranges a relentless mid-range growl and delayed vocal refrains.
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3x12"
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BLACKBOX 012LP
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2013 repress; 3x12" version, featuring 6 of the 13 tracks from the CD. In less than 3 years, Kryptic Minds have carved a deep channel into the dubstep scene, mining its traditions of spatial minimalism, edgy atmospheres and sub-bass intensity to deadly effect. The culmination of this work is their new longplayer, Can't Sleep. Bleak yet uplifting, it is the soundtrack to visions of a sterile land, devoid of people -- only ghosts remain to recount the histories of their passing.
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