In 2014 Hyperdub is 10 years old. Founded by DJ and producer Kode9, the label has grown from its humble origins as a left-field dubstep label, and spread out to function as a cross-genre hub, absorbing sounds and ideas, keeping listeners on their toes, and refreshing itself while still maintaining its core sensibilities. To celebrate, Hyperdub will release four compilations which cluster thematic highlights from the last five years, all augmented with new material, as well as staging a number of international showcase events across the year. First up comes ‘Hyperdub 10.1’, a double CD covering the label’s dancefloor dimension.
Disc 1 features almost all new material from Hyperdub regulars such as Kode9 & The Spaceape, Quarta 330 and DJ Rashad, along with old and new allies. Opening with the oddball groove of DVA's ‘Mad Hatter’, we move into young Detroit producer Kyle Hall's ‘Girl U So Strong’, a slow builder that culminates in a blissed-out G-funk groove, Mala's ‘Expected’, a rock solid, melancholy half-step bulldozer, Kuedo's ‘Mtzpn’, Morgan Zarate's recent martial snare anthem, ‘Kaytsu’ and Helix's club-ready remix of Kode9's 2013 ‘Xingfu Lu’. We also welcome back Flowdan, who appeared on early label hit ‘Skeng,’ with the malevolent, Footsie-produced ‘Ambush’. The pace picks up on the second half of the CD with a volley of woozy and twisted footwork from most of the key members of Chicago’s Teklife crew. Taso & Djunya's Darwinian ‘Only The Strongest Survive’ descends into DJ Spinn's bombastic ‘All My Teklife’, DJ Taye's fizzling R&B jam, ‘Get Em Up’, the immaculate diva vocal cut-up of ‘I'm Gonna Get You’, DJ Rashad and Gantman's squiggly banger ‘Acid LIfe’, and the stone cold ‘Icemaster’ by Heavee. Earl, Rashad & Taye's ‘Bombaklot’ takes Hyperdub full circle with a yardcore bomb like a 2014 upgrade of the label's early days. Disc 1 closes with ‘Chasing A Beast’, a new gnarly hip hop track from Kode9 & The Spaceape, and Tokyo-based veteran ally Quarta330, who crafts in ‘Hanabi’ an epic, uptempo synthesiser jam.
Disc 2 spotlights 17 high points of Hyperdub’s last half-decade, proven dancefloor material from the grittier end of UK funky, grime, dubstep, hip hop and footwork. Artists featured include Burial, Cooly G, Champion, DVA, Funkystepz, Ill Blu, Walton, Ikonika, Kode9 & The Spaceape, Morgan Zarate, Mark Pritchard & Om'mas Keith, Terror Danjah & Riko, DOK, LV ft. Okmalumkoolkat, and DJ Rashad. ‘Hyperdub 10.1’ is more an ammunition belt than an album. Keep it locked for news of 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4 across 2014.