Scuba • Triangulation [Hotflush, UK, 2010]

When Scuba’s first album, Antipathy was released in 2008, I noticed that this was no ordinary dubstep album. Truthfully, I’m not even certain it was a dubstep album. Sure, it was dark, but it was also melodic…and really, really beautiful.

The follow up, Triangulation, is a wonderful evolution from Antipathy. It falls comfortably in the borderland in-between techno and dubstep. Sure, Triangulation is murky, ala 2562, but it is profoundly murky. Lets say, murky with intention.

Just when you are lulled into a drone-induced stupor, Scuba reminds you that you are still stuck in traffic by unleashing icy kick drums that seem to come out of nowhere. The song Tracers comes to mind immediately for this reason. The overall production of the album is crisp, and the balance of texture and melody is spot on. Sure, it can be dark in places, but one can feel purpose in the darkness.

Scuba presents this darkness in the perfect light… balanced against the edge of clean beats and shimmering sub-sonic bass. I highly recommend this album.

Descent
Latch
Three Sided Shape
Minerals
On Deck
Before
Tracers
You Got Me
So You Think You’re Special
Heavy Machinery
Glance
Lights Out