Songs for Endless Cities, Vol. 1 (Mixed by Brackles)

The initial release from the !K7-affiliated Cool in the Pool label is the first volume of its Songs for Endless Cities mix series, intended to document the developments in post-dubstep, as well as the satellite styles dubstep has absorbed and affected. Brackles, who has released tracks on Berkane Sol, Apple Pips, Planet Mu, and his own Blunted Robots, is one of post-dubstep’s finest DJs, but he forsakes his typical rush-inducing approach for a measured set. Here, he acts more as a presenter than a proper DJ, focusing on the tracks, allowing them to play out for the bulk of their duration. For those who keep an eye on what has been termed dubstep, bass, wonky, and funky throughout 2009 and 2010, most of the selections will seem obvious: the viscous zip of Floating Points' “Peoples Potential,” the sensitive bashment of Zomby’s “Tarantula,” the lovers dubstep of Cooly G's “Love Dub Remix,” the garish prodding overload of Dorian Concept's “Trilingual Dance Sexperience.” As a route into the stuff, the set should lure plenty of curious and skeptical ears, provided it is taken as a primer and not a true mix.