“I don’t like to be pigeon-holed. People are constantly coming up with new names for jungle. It’s all jungle, to me. If it’s at 170 BPM it’s jungle, its drum n’ bass, that’s it.†signed, Zero T. Damn right. Zero T’s FabricLive 52 is so much more than just this or that.
The name Zero T might not ring a bell immediately if you aren’t that familiar with the dirtiest in jungle/DnB/dubstep. The youngster joined Dublin’s Bassbin collective a while back, and quickly shot to fame after being picked up by 4 Hero’s Reinforced label. From there, Zero went on to sign a myriad of EPs on a variety of labels as well as releasing the critically acclaimed Cheap Shots LP on Total Science. Zero’s never been a fan of pigeonholing, instead preferring to pursue as many underground sounds as possible yet retaining credibility. His sound these days? Think of it as a mix of jungle, DnB, dubstep, a bit of Grime, some hiphop and a touch of soul and you’re close. And this is exactly the sound that defines the 52nd installment in the FabricLIVE series.
The mix opens with the chilled out electronic of A Certain Sound (Alaska & Paradox Lost DAT Mix) by Paradox, then smoothly moves to the heavy, teeth-grinding drum ‘n bass on Watch Your Step (Need For Mirrors VIP Mix) by Kabuki feat. Jeru The Damaja. The mix then shoots off to mysterious, dark territories, crisscrossing a handful of dark, dubby genres, nasty bassline-riddled cuts and heavyweight dirtiness straight from the underworld. Zero T’s remix of Slam’s Positive Education’s is a slammer, while tunes such as the experimental Distrust by Jubei and Equinox beautiful Space Dub take the mix to more alternative dimensions. The element of adventure is taken care of by inventive mixing techniques, something which Zero T has come to know for over the past few years. Every now and then, the mix gears up towards mean, ferocious drum ‘n bass with grime bits, after which Zero returns to more dubby grounds while retaining a massive vibe at all times. The hottest tunes on this monster? Zero T feat. Steo’s Walk Away (Zero T Reprint) stands out, and so does the super evil, hardcore violence bass stomper Sick In The Head by Need For Mirrors. Well then, are there any tracks that were better left out. Sure, Sia’s Little Man (Exemen Remix) isn’t exactly what we call dope, but given the fact that’s the only real dull moment we’re not complaining.
Zero T’s FabricLIVE 52 has become a mix that follows Fabric’s latest releases, which were all in some way related to hybridized dubstep, IDM, electronica and dub. Does this make Zero T’s compilation the proverbial a dime a dozen release? Most definitely not. FabricLIVE 52 has become a deep and incredibly organic mix compilation on which Zero T gently guides us through his dark, yet highly adventurous world. It’s dirty, it bites, it’s filled with otherworldly fx, and this makes this latest Fabric release an intriguing exploration of electronic music in its deepest facets.
Rating: 7.9/10 Label:Fabric Records Release date: June 14th, 2010
FabricLIVE 52: Zero T tracklist
1. Paradox - A Certain Sound (Alaska & Paradox Lost DAT Mix) 2. Kabuki feat. Jeru The Damaja - Watch Your Step (Need For Mirrors VIP Mix) 3. Ulterior Motive - Seven Segments 4. Slam - Positive Education (Zero T Remix) 5. Lynx & Kemo - You Are Being Lied To 6. Icicle - Ocular 7. Zero T feat. Script - Guessing Games 8. System - Speed of Light 9. Lemonde - Heaven 10. Jubei - Distrust 11. Break - Wine 12. All Thieves - Stars (Zero T Remix) 13. Need For Mirrors - Sick In The Head 14. Rockwell - Everything (& U) 15. Artificial Intelligence & Krust - Audio Assault 16. Fracture & Neptune - The Limit 17. Dillinja - When Love 18. Zero T feat. Steo - Walk Away (Zero T Reprint) 19. Genotype - Dubsoca 20. Commix - Japanese Electronics (Instra:mental Remix) 21. SP:MC & Joker D - Down 22. Icicle - Xylophobia 23. Compound One - Pum Pum Beat 24. Sia - Little Man (Exemen Remix) 25. Ation - Missing You 26. Equinox - Space Dub 27. Marcus Intalex - 21 28. Calibre - Reach 29. Reds feat. Tehbis & Fee Lups - Green Lanes
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