Rave Review: Sub Basics - Lighthouse
In the Venn diagram of bass, dub techno, and dubstep, Sub Basics sits squarely at the center. Regularly crossing paths with the likes of Beatrice M. and Pugilist, they have become a stalwart among the heaviest bass sculptors in forward-thinking club music.
On their third release this year, they land on Pepe’s label Proper Balance with Lighthouse, bringing a notably deep meditation that, while a controlled dub workout, also captures the natural movement of an aqueous environment—constantly shifting and teeming with life, with a pulsating beat acting as a beacon within the haze.
From the outset, “Rolling Thunder” feels like entering a strange marsh, fog rolling listlessly through moss-covered willows, frogs sounding nearby from dense reeds. The atmosphere is thick—almost claustrophobic—but it wraps the listener in something warm and enchanting.
With “Hemisphere,” there’s an uptick, echoing with the clicks and clacks of snares. More textures emerge as the marsh comes to life, an ominous ambience carried throughout. A voice drifts through the trees—hard to make out, harder to pinpoint. It’s neither friendly nor fearsome, more disinterested, like overhearing a conversation from a hospital bed while drifting in and out of consciousness.
Track three, “Bounce,” takes the wet warble of dubstep and delivers a thumping beat, ascending from the depths and gurgling up to the surface. It’s nearly a classic dub plate, but so soaked in bass and reverb that it feels closer to modern mysticism.
“Axis” is the climax of the EP. A jazzy backbeat skitters about while percussive stabs ricochet across the stereo like a canister of bouncy balls unleashed in a tiny room. A deeply affecting bass pulses all around. Trying to hold all these jumbled pieces together requires focus, but it’s just as rewarding to let it swirl freely, getting lost in its depths. Follow the pulse of the beat, and you just might find your way ashore.
(The Lunatic is an Austin, Texas–based raver spreading the good word through his reviews and blog—and by selling the wildest fucking electronic vinyl around.)
