NEW Dubstep vs OLD Dubstep

Engine · 06-09-2013, 05:39 PM

In 2002 the magazine XLR8R put out an issue about the emergence of dubstep. I still have the copy that I bought on the stands, having never heard of dubstep.

Here the magazine writes that a BBC Radio 1 DJ credits XLR8R with coining the term, although the writer of the article is not sure if that's correct.

Anyone paying attention to electronic music since the early 00s can easily tell the difference(s) among dubstep that has been made since then. Like Freebase said, it's not a linear progression of a certain sound.

In that issue of XLR8R many unknown DJs are written about. One duo that definitely helped start the 'genre' (and one of my personal favorites) is Horsepower Productions. I consider them 'old' dubstep, although they don't represent the entire early scene which I think stems from a pretty simple equation: UK garage + Dub + 2-Step. But even that simple combo yields extremely varied results.

Here's a song HP made in 2004

And one in 2009

'New' dubstep is less easy to define because there are so many styles incorporated into the music that gets that tag. I think what Freebase called 'brostep' is generally what people think of when they hear the word now. Like this Zomboy stuff from, I think, 2013 (I personally think it sounds awful)

Of course there's a lot more than that coming out currently. Tempa is a label that has released reliably good stuff both old and new.

Freebase Dali · 06-09-2013, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Engine

In 2002 the magazine XLR8R put out an issue about the emergence of dubstep. I still have the copy that I bought on the stands, having never heard of dubstep.

Here the magazine writes that a BBC Radio 1 DJ credits XLR8R with coining the term, although the writer of the article is not sure if that's correct.

Anyone paying attention to electronic music since the early 00s can easily tell the difference(s) among dubstep that has been made since then. Like Freebase said, it's not a linear progression of a certain sound.

In that issue of XLR8R many unknown DJs are written about. One duo that definitely helped start the 'genre' (and one of my personal favorites) is Horsepower Productions. I consider them 'old' dubstep, although they don't represent the entire early scene which I think stems from a pretty simple equation: UK garage + Dub + 2-Step. But even that simple combo yields extremely varied results.

Here's a song HP made in 2004

And one in 2009

'New' dubstep is less easy to define because there are so many styles incorporated into the music that gets that tag. I think what Freebase called 'brostep' is generally what people think of when they hear the word now. Like this Zomboy stuff from, I think, 2013 (I personally think it sounds awful)

Of course there's a lot more than that coming out currently. Tempa is a label that has released reliably good stuff both old and new.

I agree 100 percent.
The newer "dubstep" is only incorporating 2 things from traditional Dubstep, and that's the tempo and beat structure, and even that is only to an extent. Everything else is derived from genres such as Electro, Drum & Bass, etc. When you think about it, today's Dubstep can't really be classified as Dubstep if we're looking at roots, but an offshoot of it. Much in the way that we can't simply call a Neurofunk tune "Drum & Bass" while thinking of the kind of Drum & Bass we had in the '90s.

In Drum & Bass, we started off with more Jungle type stuff, and it splintered off from there. Among other subgenres, we ended up with Techstep, which eventually evolved into what we know as Neurofunk today. While it's still all Drum & Bass, the distinction serves as an indicator. If I want to listen to some Liquid D&B, I know what to look for. If I want to listen to some Neurofunk, I also know what to look for. And if I want to listen to some Jump Up, or some Dark Step, I also know where to go. While they're all technically Drum & Bass, the attention to styistic difference serves a handy purpose.
So, in that respect, simply referring to everything Electronic that plays at 140BPM in half-time and includes some D&B sounding bass as Dubstep is probably a handicap for people that don't know the difference.

I don't care if they do or not... I just think they'd be better off knowing what the hell it is they're listening to.

~~Cuthbert~~ · 06-11-2013, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

Back when the music could have been called UK Garage, Grime, Dub and 2-Step, it was great.

Sure was, this is from 2003, they mention it on here and they didn't even know what sort of music it was - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiMZAPIfZxI

Dubstep and Grime are especially close though because they evolved at the same exact time from the same people, place and radio stations. One merged into Hip-Hop and the other developed into Brostep.

Also seems like Dubstep evolved from stoner music to pillhead music. Once it started to get popular the crowds and fan base changed. I'd say it's more like Dance music now.

Quote:

Now, it has the potential to be great, but most of the focus goes into the wrong things. The best thing about the realness that was evolving in the UK was the vibe. It didn't rely on anything other than that, and the gallop of the beat. Since then, the focus has shifted to other aspects that, while they could be considered evolutions, they're not evolving from the same place.

I've heard very little creativity from the modern Brostep stuff tbh. The emphasis seems completely on how ridiculous you can make the bass sound or how aggressive you can make the snare or whatever. It's toss. Sukh Knight is sort of a hybrid of the two styles though and does it very well I think.

There is good stuff being made, but I cannot be bothered to sift through the massive amounts of shit to find it anymore.

Quote:

Personally, I don't appreciate what most people call "brostep". I do, however, enjoy the roots. And if there are people out there that can't tell the difference between then and now, then I feel sorry for them.

.

gabrielem · 11-26-2013, 06:45 AM

dear Engine, I tried to answer you a few minutes ago, via private message (thank you for you answer). But I couldn't, as it seems you have reached you maximum disposable number of private messages. So, please, let's continue the conversation via email (I already gave mine in my first message; please, give me yours). Thank you so much!

Leotrix · 01-13-2014, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Engine

In 2002 the magazine XLR8R put out an issue about the emergence of dubstep. I still have the copy that I bought on the stands, having never heard of dubstep.

the magazine writes that a BBC Radio 1 DJ credits XLR8R with coining the term, although the writer of the article is not sure if that's correct.

Anyone paying attention to electronic music since the early 00s can easily tell the difference(s) among dubstep that has been made since then. Like Freebase said, it's not a linear progression of a certain sound.

In that issue of XLR8R many unknown DJs are written about. One duo that definitely helped start the 'genre' (and one of my personal favorites) is Horsepower Productions. I consider them 'old' dubstep, although they don't represent the entire early scene which I think stems from a pretty simple equation: UK garage + Dub + 2-Step. But even that simple combo yields extremely varied results.

'New' dubstep is less easy to define because there are so many styles incorporated into the music that gets that tag. I think what Freebase called 'brostep' is generally what people think of when they hear the word now. Like this Zomboy stuff from, I think, 2013 (I personally think it sounds awful)

Of course there's a lot more than that coming out currently. Tempa is a label that has released reliably good stuff both old and new.

You had to choose Zomboy to represent brostep didn't you?
He is a thief, he used loops for his bass sounds and drums (which are the core elements) and just says its his.

I think even brostep has subgenres at this point in time. Stuff from Circus Records is brostep but so is Skrillex and they sound different with the drum sounds and the amount of swing in the drums and the bass sounds.

Mt Eden, Datsik and Excision are all the pioneers of brostep.
Rusko started brostep.
12th Planet and Skrillex got brostep and dubstep in general into clubs.

I like all dubstep but the only part I don't like is the amount of wannabe producers copying skrillex's sound (e.g. zomboy)

Engine · 01-15-2014, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leotrix

You had to choose Zomboy to represent brostep didn't you?
He is a thief, he used loops for his bass sounds and drums (which are the core elements) and just says its his.

I think even brostep has subgenres at this point in time. Stuff from Circus Records is brostep but so is Skrillex and they sound different with the drum sounds and the amount of swing in the drums and the bass sounds.

Mt Eden, Datsik and Excision are all the pioneers of brostep.
Rusko started brostep.
12th Planet and Skrillex got brostep and dubstep in general into clubs.

I like all dubstep but the only part I don't like is the amount of wannabe producers copying skrillex's sound (e.g. zomboy)

The point is fuck the prevalence of brostep. So why wouldn't I use Zomboy to represent it?

06-09-2013, 05:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
Engine air quote Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: pollen & mold Posts: 3,108	In 2002 the magazine XLR8R put out an issue about the emergence of dubstep. I still have the copy that I bought on the stands, having never heard of dubstep. Here the magazine writes that a BBC Radio 1 DJ credits XLR8R with coining the term, although the writer of the article is not sure if that's correct. Anyone paying attention to electronic music since the early 00s can easily tell the difference(s) among dubstep that has been made since then. Like Freebase said, it's not a linear progression of a certain sound. In that issue of XLR8R many unknown DJs are written about. One duo that definitely helped start the 'genre' (and one of my personal favorites) is Horsepower Productions. I consider them 'old' dubstep, although they don't represent the entire early scene which I think stems from a pretty simple equation: UK garage + Dub + 2-Step. But even that simple combo yields extremely varied results. Here's a song HP made in 2004 And one in 2009 'New' dubstep is less easy to define because there are so many styles incorporated into the music that gets that tag. I think what Freebase called 'brostep' is generally what people think of when they hear the word now. Like this Zomboy stuff from, I think, 2013 (I personally think it sounds awful) Of course there's a lot more than that coming out currently. Tempa is a label that has released reliably good stuff both old and new. __________________ Like an arrow, I was only passing through.

11-26-2013, 06:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
gabrielem Groupie Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: find me at gaber.en[at]libero.it Posts: 1	dear Engine, I tried to answer you a few minutes ago, via private message (thank you for you answer). But I couldn't, as it seems you have reached you maximum disposable number of private messages. So, please, let's continue the conversation via email (I already gave mine in my first message; please, give me yours). Thank you so much!