For all the negativity and, frankly, sheer mockery that Restless Leg Syndrome unleashed upon society, credit was never justly dolled out. With the advent of Mirapex and its intense urges came a renaissance in mysterious, possibly psychosomatic, diseases. Yet the scale remains unbalanced. Not since the days of medicinal leeches and snake oil has the medical field propelled such creativity. Imagine the multitude of helpless ailments patients may have already contracted. Symptoms are not always prevalent! Worst, these signs are not always clear. It is on humanitarian grounds that I write this post: both a cautionary tale and public service.
I speak to you not just as one who writes. I rent time on your screen as victim, too. I, myself, suffer from a scourge that only I and an advertisement currently in R&D can explain. Be that as it may, The Echo Reflex Disease (TERD) is composed of equal parts physical ailments and state of mind. I may not be patient zero, but I have narrowed the cause to listening to David Rodigan's BBC 1Xtra program. Upon entering Rodigan's echo chamber, a virus begins the process of infection. The clearest signs show within twenty-four hours and include a variety of ailments - including but not limited to - voting for a monarchy headed by King Tubby, explaining to friends how the Mad Professor is the true cause of climate change, and painting any ark in sight black.
The above presentation, however, is an extreme case. Most - or those reported at the time of this post - have been mild. The most prevalent results revolve around increased listening of dub; such as the selections below. The first (shared after the jump) is an original cut from the US-based label Grand Ancestor. Immediately clear from this, the label's first release, is an inclination towards the headphone audience more so than the dance floor. The pace is slow, as it should be. The give-away, though, is the faint breakbeat sound heard within the introduction. This is a production that favors careful listening and herbal essences. Audiophiles are pleased in the process. The highlight is a clear dubstep bass, as well as the two distinct drops at 2:17 as well as 3:40 unassumingly built up by vocal cues - the most accessible quality to casual fans. The most interesting qualities, however, are the drum fills inbetwixt fades as well as the start-stop quality of the rhythm. The false end nearly a minute before the ending is attention grabbing, but not getting lost the ambient sea of its own creation is the track's greatest accomplishment. If nothing else, this serves as a fresh addition to any song based music library.
The remix of the original track, though, strikes me as more interesting. Immediately captivating is the London-based Alpha Steppa label's preference for a lower pitch. The alternate version's distinction is also due to the increased tempo and preference for a slight techno flare. Within these curious choices is the utilization of chicken scratch, greatly assisting the rhythm. All the while the synth has the liberty to space out its melodic role. Listeners are thusly rewarded with a rhythmic change at just about the minute mark and the sudden surfacing of a middle eastern sound. Altogether, this is not a dub song to forget.
- John Noggle
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