Each week, World in Stereo examines classic and modern world music while striving for a greater appreciation of other cultures.
Various artists: Generation Bass Presents Transnational Dubstep (Six Degrees Records, 2/1/11)
Fleck & Fish Finger: “Rude Profile” (Pan Agnostix flamenco-step remix) [bonus cut, not available on album]
[audio:http://alarm-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/rude-profile-fleck-fish-finger-pan-agnostix-flamenco-step-remix_320k.mp3|titles=Fleck & Fish Finger: “Rude Profile” (Pan Agnostix flamenco-step remix)]Originating in East London at the turn of the century, dubstep loosely teeters between the electronic styles of garage, dub, and drum-and-bass. Distinct in its aggressive, bass-heavy qualities, it’s a fascinating genre that has blown subwoofers on both sides of the Atlantic. Though the music’s meditation on complex rhythms and cerebral twists make it all the more attractive, it is dubstep’s grimy, low-frequency synths and wobbly, soul-shaking bass riffs that have made it a movement.
Transnational Dubstep, a compilation by Generation Bass blog co-founders / editors DJ UMB and Vincent Koreman in conjunction with Six Degrees Records, is one of the first major releases to document the fusion of dubstep and global roots music. As something of an infant genre, a surge of electronic producers and DJs from all over the world are taking it in all kinds of different directions. From Latin American to Balkan, Chinese to Indian, and Middle Eastern to Japanese — the sounds are extremely diverse, giving first-time listeners an amazing introduction and long-time fans a mine full of new gems.