Contakt / ‘Not Forgotten’
Digital / Vinyl
Local Action Records / Released February 7th 2011
This is precisely the sound that makes critics pull ridiculous genre descriptions out of their many crevices. It’s dubstep, but really it’s house. Then again, a few years ago we may have thrown this in with the breaks.
Things continue to go from strength to strength over the pond at Local Action Records, as the imprint welcomes Contakt to the stable for the New York resident’s first 12″. Stepping, percussion-heavy beats, a rather demanding hoover bassline and a roof-raising hook are some of the attributes that need to be mentioned on this worthwhile attempt, which hopefully marks the begining of a new production oeuvre worth noticing.
On the other side you’ll find old school organ stabs and broken kicks all over the early-electro inspired Rhodophyta, which makes a slightly more understated impact than the opening tune. Before you get there though, Underground Resistance’s legendary Rolando has something to say, with a remix of Not Forgotten from the flip. His message is a simple, tribal groover that Danny Tenaglia would be happy with, building on the upbeat structure of the original while looking to take it on a heavier, housier and far more eerie heads down route. The likes of Martyn, Sinden and Paul Woolford have all announced support, which should help fill in the blanks left by this description.