Headland & Ebb - SUBTLE003

Cat No: SUBTLE003
Format: 12" Vinyl
Release Date: 09 Jun 2023
Genre: Dubstep / Bass

a1. Headland & Ebb - Ran
b1. Headland & Ebb - Tsar

‘Ran’ is the A-side of the third release by Subtle Recordings, SUBTLE003, which features two complementary tracks created in collaboration by two of Aotearoa’s finest underground Bass Music artists, Ebb and Headland. ‘Ran’ begins powerfully with a melodic roller, snare stabs, and the occasional slack kick. Combined with penultimate sirens, it lures the listener into a false sense of security before laying down the second drop. An almighty dark synth slathers the floor, creating a suspenseful but murky atmosphere. Drawing the listener in with its hypnotic rhythm and ominous tones, ‘Ran’ brings the heat and gets the crowd frothing.

‘Tsar’ is the B-side of the third release by Subtle Recordings, SUBTLE003, which features two complementary tracks created in collaboration by two of Aotearoa’s finest underground Bass Music artists, Ebb and Headland. ‘Tsar’, as its namesake suggests, is a formidable force in 140. The track kicks off with a grunting bassline, contrasted overtop with a haunting oscillating hum, setting the stage for all-out mayhem. The track explodes into a sustained highly distorted synth before laying waste with a timely drop in key, cementing a foundation-rattling bassline. We then enter Tsar’s renaissance moment, where a positively uplifting ensemble ensues, until the relentless machine pushes through once again.