Producer Dubb Parade was, just one month ago, a lot sunnier. He billed his Your Emotion collection as “chillwave” and, even if it wasn’t totally locked to that Internet-genre, it carried a hazy, disco-influenced vibe that sounded more suitable for a blissed-out (remember that one?) summer spent indoors. Whether intentionally pushing himself to release music rooted in different sounds or he just had a really shitty month, his latest collection Cold Tone finds him getting far more chilly.
It opens with “Weeping,” a vaguely Burial-sounding bit of dubstep circa 2008,building its groove from a lonely vocal shout (“stay!”). It really gets going, though, when everything turns metallic and “Weeping” turns into a far sharper number, adding aggressiveness to what initially sounds like moping. “Weeping” is the weakest song here – at six minutes, Dubb Parade can only do so much with these sonic elements before it gets a touch tedious – and follow-up “Looming” finds a way to make the lonely/intimidating vibe come off more subtle. The best moment, though, is “Maze,” a skittery number featuring what sounds like warped police sirens blaring off in the background. It lends the track a disorienting feel, like being chased through the streets by the law and not sure what the heck is going on. Who knows what he’ll pull out next month, but he sounds solid on Cold Tone. Get it here, or listen below.