Some record labels are so good at quality control that you can buy their releases blind. Hyperdub is that kind of label and it is about to celebrate it’s 5th birthday with a slick compilation album.
Is it really five years since the first slab of Hyperdub vinyl appeared out of Brixton? Hyperdub jump-started with a stripped down, bass-ridden cover of Prince’s ‘Sign Of The Times’ back in 2004. I have to admit I missed Hyperdub founder Kode 9’s ‘Sign Of The Dub’ with the mighty Daddi Gee on the mic and only got on the Hyperdub wagon with the second single, the earth shaking ‘Spit’ by Kode 9 & Daddi Gee in August of 2005, an awesome mix of gruff Prince Far-I style spoken word and warped hi-tech bassline.
Virtually every transmission from the Brixton HQ since then has been a timeless piece of urban style. Burial, Zomby, LD, LV, Joker, Quarta 330 - Hyperdub’s artist stable reads like tags of graffiti writers and like the best graf artists, their work is iconic. Short three, four minute explosions of sound in glorious technicolour.
What I like best about Hyperdub is that the label moves on and morphs subtly after every release. From early, Drum ‘n’ Bass and Reggae influenced sides over the Golden Period of classic Dubstep to the new funky sounds, Hyperdub has covered a lot of musical ground in five years.
I have to admit that I hardly ever leave the house to play without at least one Hyperdub 12″ in my record bag. Kode 9’s ‘2 Far Gone’ and Mark Pritchard & Om’Mas Keith’s ‘Wind It Up’ are my current favourites. Yet, if you don’t buy vinyl you will likely have missed all but the mighty Burial - Hyperdub’s biggest crossover artist who does remixes for Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and other pop greats. The good people at Hyperdub are about to change this and bring their label within reach of CD or MP3 listeners with the compilation ‘5 Years Of Hyperdub’.
Watch Mark Pritchard Drop ‘Wind It Up’ In A DJ Set
The two CD compilation documents Hyperdub’s evolution, combining the label’s biggest 12″ singles and a whole host of previously unreleased tracks to keep the hardcore fans happy.
My favourites among the brand new tracks are Zomby’s massive ‘Tarantula’, Joker & Ginz’s futuristic ‘Stash’ and the ultra cool ‘Sahara Michael’ by Ikonika. You also get some new stuff by Cooly G and Samiyam. In short, ‘Five Years Of Hyperdub’ is a massive bonanza with more new tracks than the label would normally issue in a six month period. Get on it.
The double CD ‘5 Years Of Hyperdub is due out in October. For vinyl fans, Hyperdub has scheduled a series of five 12″ EPs featuring some of the unreleased highlights and rarities which will be released in the weeks leading up to the CD album. The first 12″ combines three tracks by Kode 9 (’Time Control’), Flying Lotus (’Disco Balls’) and Black Chow (’Purple Smoke’). This is absolutely essential stuff for anybody who likes their music fresh and a bit challenging.
If you like Hyperdub, you may also like:
Débruit
Various Production
Skream
