Looking back on the myriad of ways that the genre now known quite loosely as ‘bass music’ has mutated, one of the key figures in its evolution would have to be Bristol’s Rob Ellis, better known simply as Pinch. His fascination with what the outer limits of the dub sound can achieve, has made him a distinct figure within the fluid group of like-minded dubstep musicians that defined the so-called Bristol sound.
“I am a supporter of the sound of vinyl and the cultural associations I make with this format so it was important to me – even if I do ultimately end up abandoning my beloved format one day – to stick by my guns and record the mix like this. I also made the whole mix start and finish in the same spot – meaning that the entire DJ mix can work as a loop if you put it on repeat. I really like the idea of certain kinds of music existing in its own infinite context and setting up the mix to loop like that was playing entirely into that idea.” – Pinch
The mix itself combines all of Pinch’s loves, a blend of both melodic mood-pieces, driving dub-techno and the odd mid-range bass wobble masterfully planted to maximum effect. This is all peppered through in post-production with little vocal samples, mostly supplied by Bristol MC Jakes, that fully form the mix, like the grain in wood, supplying body, making it more than just a sum of its constituent parts.
Bug out to FABRICLIVE 61: Pinch from Fabric London on Vimeo.
Tracklist
01 Distal – Venom (Part 2) [Tectonic]
02 F – Slow Down [7even]
03 EQD – Equalized #005B [Equalized]
04 Henry & Louis feat. Prince Green – Love Like (Pinch Remix) [2 Kings]
05 Pinch & Shackleton – Rooms Within A Room [Honest Jon’s]
06 Deleted Scenes – Natural Law [Deleted Scenes]
07 Pinch & Quest – In Dreams [Tectonic]
08 Boddika & Joy Orbison – Swims [Swamp81]
09 DJ G – Uncertain [Tectonic]
10 Roly Porter – Hessra [Subtext]
11 Photek & Pinch – Acid Reign (Pinch’s Dubplate Version) [Photek Productions]
12 Pinch & Loefah – Broken [Tectonic]
13 Emika – Double Edge (Pinch Remix) [Ninja Tune]
14 Roska – 480 BC [Tectonic]
15 Addison Groove – This Is It VIP [Tectonic]
16 Goth Trad – Mach [Tectonic]
17 Distance – Blue Meanie [Chestplate]
18 Jakes – Get Serious [H.E.N.C.H.]
19 Jakes – A Case Of The Bleeps [H.E.N.C.H.]
20 OM Unit – Pressure [Tectonic]
21 Illum Sphere – Promise A Secret [Tectonic]
22 Distal – Venom (Part 1) [Tectonic]
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