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Starkey : Orbits
Thursday 22nd November 2012 | barnabas
When Dubstep is gangster - with moments of introspection...
This double 12" from Civil Music takes a developed look at some of the movements in the poppier end of dubstep, downtempo grime, electro and hiphop, with some lush segueways into rich synth pad reflectism and electro. And I don't mean in a bad way.
Starky takes us on ride through american gangster swagger, added to the glittering arpeggios and super-fast high hat trills of charting UK rap, whilst keeping it strictly old school, raw, dancefloor, and structurally tight. As the record progresses big bouncy 909 stomps disintergrate into delicate synth washes and the odd naive vocal... and back into minimal, serious, slightly experimental dubstep and electro groove.
Its as though you meet him at the end of a bangin' night, in the club, just in time to catch the last few heavy tunes the dj'd been saving for a knackered, sweaty but raved-up dancefloor of wide eyed stragglers... you neck the remnants of your pint, head out into the cold night and into his lowrider, where the strains of lo-fi chillwave make you think he's taking you home for a nightcap... but he suddenly turns down an ally, hops out the car, and into the afterparty, where a whole new crowd of happy people are busy break-necking to alternative bass like the sun ain't gonna come up.
Consistently transparent production, and a clear love of simple, to the point breaks, he mixes the crustiness of samples with the clarity of synthesisers, and the rawness of the 808 / 909 with the smoothness of the gangster electro hook, with straight-ahead confidence and aplomb. Groovy and rude, fronty and blase by turns, Starkey's not afraid to show his nice side.
Expect to hear these dropped in the club at any time, and many times.
