Today's topic is the past, the present and the future of dubstep - a genre of music which has recently been subject to intense popular and critical ridicule. Dubstep is a a genre of electronic music which originated in the town of Croydon, Sarf Landan in the late nineties and early noughties, and has recently been filling dance-floors across the UK and even the US. Early dubstep was quintessentially british, sparse and often included reggae samples. Early pioneers of dubstep, such as Burial, Kode9, and DMZ, made dark, ambient music, which reflected the supposed monotony of suburban life in the noughties and was very much of its time. Early dubstep was the most progressive electronic music coming out of London since the decline of UK garage and most felt optimistic about dubstep's imminent movement in to popular culture.
An example of an early dubstep track...
It is unfair to say that good dubstep is no longer being produced as there are notable cases of Djs bringing dubstep to the forefront of british music, whilst still retaining a fair few characteristics of early dub. Magnetic Man and Chase & Status have both charted highly by bringing elements of dubstep in to popular music, rather than betraying its roots. Sadly, dubstep's movement to the mainstream has often meant perversion and americanisation and modern dubstep now has a stigmatised image caused by acts such as Skrillex and Excision. The song 'Bass Cannon' by Flux Pavilion, I believe, perfectly illustrates the current state of british dubstep. Mainstream dubstep has become less about music and more about noise. This movement of dubstep from its origins has seen many write dubstep off as a faddy 'joke genre' which, I believe, is totally unjust. The equivalent would be of someone writing off UK Grime, having disliked one of Dizzee Rascal's pop songs.
An example of a modern dubstep track...
All hope is not lost though. The origins and characteristics which made dubstep so unique are now surviving in a genre coined 'post-dubstep'. Post-dubstep is an umbrella term for new music being produced which is heavily influenced by early dubstep. Post-dubstep retains dubstep's dark but mellow characteristics, whilst breaking in to genres as diverse as jazz. Notable acts in this fledgling movement include Burial (a god amongst men), Jamie xx, Mount Kimbie and Submotion Orchestra. Other than Jamie xx's limited popular success, post-dubstep seems to be another underground movement and I hope, for the sake of music, it stays that way.
An example of a post-dubstep track...
No comments:
Post a Comment