Dave ‘2562’ Huismans could be described as a bass music renaissance
man; as well as putting out a boatload of hard-edged dubstep under his
postcode inspired moniker, he’s also had several releases as A Made Up
Sound on a few of Europe’s most respected house / techno labels, such
as Philpot, Subsolo and Clone. On this, his second album for the
Bristol-based Tectonic imprint, the influence of his work as A Made Up
Sound is more readily apparent; the tracks feel less clinical and
spacious than those on his previous LP from 2008 ‘Aerial’, with a
decidedly analogue haze and looser shuffle to them . There’s also less
of a focus on the tried and tested half time beat that has become
something of a cliché in dubstep in recent months, as the snare drums
are moved around and the tempo dropped a touch.

It’s always a tricky task for producers of soundsystem music to make
long playing records that satisfy both headphone listeners, and the
DJs who support their 12” releases, and I’d say that ‘Unbalance’
certainly pulls it off in fine style. The production, although deep,
dense and at times unforgiving, is detailed and varied enough to
warrant repeat headphone plays, and I guarantee that some (probably
all) of the tracks on here will sound savage in the club. Tracks like
‘Dinosaur’, ‘Flashback’ and ‘Narita’ merge early Warp vibes with
basslines that rumble and throb in just the right places, whilst ‘Love
in Outer Space’ is a deeper strain of the synth heavy sound that has
represented 2009 thus far.

There is little concession made to hooks, or vocals, or anthems that
will be rinsed by the DJs, and if I had to make a criticism I’d say
that the record can feel a little one paced at times – a killer vocal
track would have really taken this to the next level. However, as an
uncompromising hybrid of dubstep, techno and broken beat the record is
flawlessly executed – I’d class it alongside the Shed and Martyn LPs
as a shining example of how to take influence from what has past and use it to create something that is fresh and futuristic.

‘Unbalance’ is released on November 1st via Tectonic.

J.