NEWS
EVENTS
EP of the month: DRDR - Struggling
House | Wednesday 24th September 2014 |
Its time to get to know Brighton-based trio DRDR. Featuring producers Chris Campbell and Joe Woods, what makes DRDR stand out is they feature just one female vocalist, the Donna Curson. Citing Maribou State and Jamie XX as influences, they're a formidable force on the future bass and deep garage scenes. This debut release on Glyph Recordings - due for release on the 29th September - showcases their unique, genre-blending style at its best.
Title track Struggling is an emotive affair whose catchy, bass-ey instrumental and melancholy vocals evoke something of the emotions and vibe of early popular dubstep tracks: ideal for autumnal British city streets, yet equally dancefloor-suitable thanks to its bouncy tempo.
Bouncier and punchier still is the second track on the EP, Warning Sounds. A stripped-back, heavy bassline keeps a steady house-like tempo whilst Curson's upbeat vocals convey a much happier, hopeful vision than the two other tracks on the EP. But it's the breakdown at the end of the track which really showcases Campbell & Woods's ear for a catchy house hook - if they'd interspersed this instrumental led section throughout the track Warning Sounds would really have the potential to become a dancefloor destroyer.
By contrast, Fine Line gives Curson an opportunity to showcase her dreamy voice and lead the melody a little more, the atmospheric instrumentals complimenting every note. Its an ethereal combination which almost sounds like The XX meets Submotion Orchestra via future garage - it's a unique but well-judged chill-out track.
Completing the package here is a remix of the title track by fellow labelmate Curtis Gabriel. Gabriel respects the emotion conveyed by Curson's powerful vocals, yet strips away the moody dubstep aspect with a straightforward house kick-snare and adds a breakdown and euphoric drop to give the track a little more structure. It's a much more upfront, commercialised version of the original - i.e daytime radio and mainstream club-friendly. Whilst this may or may not be a good thing for DRDR's usual fanbase, it'll undoubtedly help to raise both theirs and Gabriel's profile.
With almost a million Youtube plays for their Cry Me A River re-work, and having shared stages internationally with the likes of Hannah Wants, Skream and Dark Sky, this new EP looks to be the start of a huge things for DRDR.
@MiriamEJohnson
