Dexter's Beat Laboratory Vol. 88
Dexter’s Beat Laboratory Vol. 88
Dexter’s Beat Laboratory is a weekly collection of songs from DA managing editor Robyn Dexter. With a taste that can only be described as eclectic — to say nothing of a name that lends itself to punnery — DA is happy to present a selection of tracks personally curated by Dexter for your listening pleasure.
Listen in playlist format here.
Dutch producer Maduk can usually be found creating drum ‘n’ bass or putting together incredible end-of-year mixes for Liquicity, but his latest is a bit different. He’s teamed up with NoCopyrightSounds to release his latest, “Go Home,” which kicks the BPM up to 175 and uses emotive female vocals to draw the listener in. As always, Maduk’s production is top-notch. He crafts flawless builds and drops around the vocals and again shows why he’s one of the most promising faces of today’s drum ‘n’ bass scene.
I have long enjoyed Direct‘s unique downtempo craftsmanship and was pleasantly surprised to see he’d teamed up with Telomic and Matt Van to produce a drum ‘n’ bass track for Galacy’s Identities compilation. His style of production flows effortlessly with that of dnb artist Telomic, and wistful vocals from Van complete the trifecta. Sharp percussion and anticipation-building crescendos and decrescendos give this piece a crisp feel. It’s both clean and emotive—a beautiful combo.
Mysterious producer Kuumo makes his debut on Spanish imprint Inextremis with a powerful number called “Interact.” The artist is a clear fan of Porter Robinson (he’s categorized other works as “Porterstep”) and the influences shine strongly in “Interact.” Kuumo uses vocals in multiple languages, putting glitchy effects on them amid sparkling synth melodies. He even uses a filtered guitar theme toward the end, bringing together a multitude of elements that comprise his unique style.
Wheezly’s newest release is an intergalactic drum ‘n’ bass journey. From start to finish, this piece exudes energy—often in unexpected ways. While the producer starts off with a dnb rhythm, he switches it up for an eerie, pounding bass pattern on particular drops, giving the listener an opportunity to experience the supernatural atmosphere often found at a REZZ show and a hectic dnb rave in the same song. Despite its twists and turns, “Stay Back” manages to feel cohesive and well-rounded.
For his latest release, Jason Ross has reworked a track of his own, “New Dawn.” This “club mix” of the experimental Rooms EP track is a gorgeous trance re-imagining, as Ross paints a colorful and atmospheric soundscape perfect for a late-night dance floor. Where the original “New Dawn” served as one big, beautiful build, the club mix sees Ross rework its heavenly facets into a dramatic and dynamic nightclub heater. With pounding bass and soaring melodies on the drops, the “New Dawn” club mix thrills both fans of the original and those who just can’t leave the dance floor.
