- Rua Sound is a new-ish label out of Galway and Brussels that highlights hybridized bass music. Its first EP, from Sully and Sam Binga, had a jungle flavour, while its second, from the Dutch producer TMSV, mixed dubstep's stomp with footwork's fidget. RUA003 looks to the past, with TMSV and newcomer Taiko meeting at the intersection of old-school grime and dubstep. Like something you would hear in a Kahn & Neek set, these two tracks are traditionalist on the surface but feature modern details that make them more than just exercises in nostalgia.
Both tunes are sparse and cavernous, with huge synths that are perforated to feel dynamic rather than overbearing. Of the two, TMSV's "Shot" is more grime influenced, mixing classic sleuthing chords with the dubby tinge of old DMZ records and Flowdan's vocals. It's hulking and heavy but loaded with limber snares that dance around the stiffer kicks. Taiko's "Bang Thing," which owes more to dubstep, also hits that balance. It has lots empty space, which makes each beat land with force, and emphasizes tension over pure aggression. Both tracks show what makes Rua an exciting young label, even if they only touch on one aspect of the wide-ranging sounds the label covers.
TracklistA TMSV - Shot feat. Flowdan
AA Taiko - Bang Thing