The Others
‘Red Planet’
(Dub Police)
Release Date: 21st Dec 2012
Since debuting on Boka records back in 2007, The Others, AKA Alex Crawford, has come a long way. In the five years since his first release on Dub Police - the acclaimed ‘Africa’ EP in the same year – his prolific work rate and consistently high quality output has made him the most released artist on label and an integral part of its core, as well as a lynchpin in an ever-evolving dubstep scene. A series of impressive original productions, not to mention a number of standout high-profile remixes over the last few years are now set to culminate in his debut artist album for the label, ‘Red Planet’.
Over twelve tracks, ‘Red Planet’ gives The Others the canvas to showcase the full breadth of his talents like never before. Amalgamating the many influences that inform his productions, the album’s dubstep backbone is bolstered by glimpses of breakbeat, jungle, techno and progressive house, resulting in a brilliantly crafted and coherent artistic statement. Filled with light and shade, impact and intricacy, ‘Red Planet’ is much more than a collection of club tracks; this is an album in the truest sense of the word.
‘Go’ provides an apt introduction to the album setting a sweeping futuristic backdrop to the album as Crawford carefully layers new elements to craft a constantly evolving technoid powerhouse. This swiftly morphs into last year’s huge single ‘First Flight’, a fiery rave mutation for the bass generation that plays its ecstatic synth lines off against a snarling beast of a bassline. Latest single ‘Freeze The Frame’ featuring Geoff Smith on vocals further explores these rave-influenced sounds as soaring synth lines collide with sharp drums and tough bass flourishes in fine style.
Joined by Joker on production duties, ‘Spaceman’ journeys further into outer space with its combination of playful synths and funk-fuelled rhythm before ‘Showdown / Polaris’ brings things crashing back down to earth with its techy synths and menacing bass swipes, asserting The Others’ underground legacy with supreme conviction. Teaming up with label mate Emalkay on ‘Fallout’, The Others continues to push this signature style into new and unchartered territory, delivering a dark and deadly tearout cut that has already been getting Radio1 support from Skream & Benga, MistaJam and Eddy Temple Morris. Built on a rigid, incisive rhythm, the industrial bassline slashes through the track viciously against a backdrop of undulating subs.
Moving into the second half of the album, ‘Antithesis’ featuring Stamina takes things deeper driven by rattling jungle breaks and clean subs before ‘Stargate’’s powerful rhythm unwinds into a twisting mixture of trippy synths and snarling bass notes. Opening things out once again, ‘The Way You Make Me’ draws on elements of progressive house and classic rave to bring a sense of anthemic euphoria to his powerful soundsystem shaking productions and has been winning strong support from scene tastemakers Skream & Benga. Utilising bright synths, twinkling keys and an emotive vocal hook to offset the stark drums and warping bassline, it is as evocative as it is ferocious giving The Others a chance to showcase his melodic prowess and songwriting abilities.
Moving into the final quarter, ‘Feel It’ featuring Breakage keeps the energy levels high using driving breakbeat rhythms and diva vocals as its motor before ‘One Man Show’ takes things down, allowing Crawford to bring to light a different side to his capabilities. Built around Lonette Charles’ effortlessly soulful vocals it articulates a more poignant streak to the album with its shuffling rhythm, warm piano melody and loose jazz inflections. Fittingly that leaves the title-track to play out the album, doing so in epic style as it explodes in a flurry of electric synths backed by its deep bass tones.
Having proved his worth as amongst the most versatile and exciting producers around, ‘Red Planet’ is set to propel him to the upper echelons of dance music.
Tracklist:
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