Reeling SkullwaysPunch Drunk***

Some dubstep scientists brought their laptops to the party; Ralph Cumbers always had a trombone by his side. His adventures in bass were usually on a different track to everyone else as well, with brassy bass underpinning a gritty approach to his sound. For Reeling Skullways, Cumbers takes pointers from Detroit techno and house. It's not an uncommon move as many bass explorers head to the house party and Cumbers finds plenty to fire up his imagination. Embrace Disaster and Electricity Comes from Other Planets stand on the shoulders of classic techno styles, while Cumbers's penchant for moody sub-bass gives the tracks a frisson of menace. The problem is that there's little here that is truly essential or unique. Cumbers has the smarts to create headturning sounds, so it's a pity he just goes with the flow. magicanddreams.word press.com

Download tracks:Embrace Disaster, Electricity Comes from Other Planets