Subtle Mind

TUNE OF THE MONTH
Subtle Mind
Untitled (Lutetia Dubz)
Something is afoot in Paris. With Lutetia Dubz up to their 16th release, the quality control is off the chart – hence last month’s Album Of The Month for the mighty Von D, and now two lovely bits of heavy soul from this San Fran/LA duo. ‘Untitled’ could sit perfectly well on a label like Deep Medi or System, its one-note bassline powering along as subtle rave stabs, boogie-soul synths and unexpected ripples of sax weave around to make something brutally heavy but soulful, too. ‘Be Eazy’ is more of a slow jam, with weightless vibes and melodic bass: one for the lovers!
9/10 - Mixmag

Homage

A member of the highly-touted Pure Filth Soundsystem before he could legally drink, Homage was truly raised by the Los Angeles bass scene. Inspired by equal parts experimental hip hop and classic UK dubstep, Homage’s productions maintain a genre-bending dance floor feel, often mixing classic sampling technique with thundering dubstep bass. While his productions are supported by local favorites like Pavarotti, Hogwash, Sam XL, Mesck and Endigo, Homage tunes sound best when mixed by the man himself. As a DJ, he’s played some of LA’s biggest nights, earning himself residencies with Rumble in the Jungle and Mass, as well as gigs supporting Hatcha, Jakes, Truth, N-Type, Flying Lotus, Sukh Knight, and more. His latest release, the four-track “In Before Dawn,” will be re-released on Mass this summer.

Subtle Mind

The intricate, ambient, jazzy sounds of California’s Subtle Mind became known around the world in 2013 with the release of “Gravitate” (Tuba). The EP earned critical acclaim, being called “forward thinking bass science” by Juno, and “a strong connection between both harmonically and melodically-driven music, and the percussive sound system testing sounds of reggae and dub” by FatKidOnFire. Their mature, eclectic music has gained support from DJ Chefal, Joe Nice, Bunzer0, Gantz, and Crises, and earned them gigs at some of California’s premier bass music events, including a residency with the world-renowned Mass night in Los Angeles, giving them a stage to play the multitude of rare tunes sent to them from around the world. - Outlook Festival

Two very different sides to dub duo Subtle Mind are revealed here on their latest offering for emo-bass exponents Lutetia Dubz. "Untitled" reveals a murkier side to their sound - all pounding slo-mo bottom end, suspenseful percussion, mechanical stabs and icy synths. On the other hand, "Be Eazy", with its floating Fender Rhodes chords, hazy vocals and gentle digi dub riddims, evokes the jazzier, emotional side that the label is known for putting out. - JunoDownload

Lutetia Dubz, french dubstep and bass music label, has been (not so) quietly advancing to the forefront of today's more melodic and powerful dubstep releases. In 2013 alone, Lutetia Dubz brought us massive tunes by Nibe, Von D, RDG, Aeolho, Phaeleh, and K-Man (1 half of Deep Medi's now dissolved Dub Mechz).

The label is the brainchild of the talented french producer Nibe, one time roommate of Von D, another french producer who has frequented Denver in his constant schedule of touring. If you're unfamiliar with the musical style Lutetia represents; picture smooth, richly textured synth chords constantly paired with deep, soulful basslines. Lutetia releases also feature some of the most powerful and moving female vocals I have heard in dubstep, another testament to the rich romanticism the label is known for. Make no mistake, Lutetia releases such as RDG's "Taken" pack a massive punch, and appeal to those who yearn for dark atmospheres and snarling leads. Lutetia Dubz, much like Sub.Mission, has one goal - and that is to provide us with a "No Hype, Just Bass" oriented musical experience.

After approaching Nibe about helping Lutetia create video content for his label, I was blessed to receive his dub "Floating Away (ft. Shanti)" in my inbox. The song instantly had me yearning for more soulful, female vocal driven dubstep.A month had gone by with little success in finding songs with that precise feel, making me more and more eager for new content from the Lutetia camp. This carried on until Jan 5, 2014 - when Nibe dropped his immaculate "Fine Cuts #1" mix, a 21 minute showcase of "sounds and beats (Lutetia) listens to and that inspire (the label)." I literally could not have been more pleased with the selection of tracks included in this mix, and was blown away that it was offered as a free download!







The first track in the Fine Cuts mix is titled "Familiar" by the up and coming UK Singer Nikki Marie (https://soundcloud.com/NikkiMarie).

The song is unreleased, but in my opinion captures the very essence of Lutetia Dubz. The opening chords nearly speak to me, saying "welcome to the world of Lutetia". The song then eases into Nikki's insanely powerful vocal performance, where the feeling gains even more affirmation with her lyrics - "let's get familiar", and familiar we do become.

The second track in the mix comes from Anti Social Entertainment's G-Double, who usually commands the mic, and can be heard in legendary mixes such as Silkie and Quest's 2012 Outlook Festival set. G-Double really flexes his production muscles with this piece, providing another heavy, bass-driven track paired with a pleasing vocal sample.

Coming third in the mix is British dubstep producer EL-B's rework of Joel Culpepper's "Passenger", a stylish vocal driven track made even more forward thinking by EL-B's choice of instrumental backing. This track has long been on my wishlist, and can be heard in many of Von D's recent mixes.

The fourth track in the mix is another from the Anti Social Ent. camp. This time Jay 5ive and Dark Tantrums command the buttons. Both being longtime friends and collaborators with dubstep legend Kromestar, their brand of dubstep takes on a heavier approach than the previous three songs in the mix. A pulsing bassline supports the almost hypnotizing lead synth, and brings to mind (at least to me) the feeling of traveling through a vortex, or tunnel, deep into the heart of the music.

Label mastermind Nibe provides us with the fifth track in his mix, titled "Another Thing (VIP)". This track puts off loose, yet well placed, jumpy vibes, and is paired with an almost alien-sounding theramin lead. This track showcases Nibe's take on more rough around the edges, aggressive dubstep, and has a great classic feel.

Track six gives us an example of what we can expect from Lutetia in 2014. Produced by Subtle Mind, the track "Be Eazy" is set for a forthcoming release through Lutetia Dubz. This is another perfect example of Lutetia's soulful side, as Subtle Mind's soft chord progressions take you on a journey filled with beautiful percussion and keen vocal sample placement.

The second to last track is a product of the young, Estonian producer Bisweed, who has been making waves in the dubstep community in recent years. Bisweed lays down a strong foundation for fellow Estonian vocalist Margaret (https://www.facebook.com/MargaretMusics) who tears through the mix with a catchy and seductive set of lyrics. Definitely a pair of artists to watch out for in 2014.

The eighth and final track in the Fine Cuts mix sends us off in a celebratory manner. French producer Stepz brings out the hyphy, party-style synths that sound like a rejoicing brass section. A nice section of guitar driven chords also complement the production. Snare rolls also add to the party feel of the track, and leave you with a sense of accomplishment for having listened to the full mix!

All in all, I can say I thoroughly enjoy every single track in the mix. I'm even more excited that the Lutetia camp plans on putting out more of their Fine Cuts mixes bi-weekly. This label has really solidified itself as a shining star in the bass music world, and we can only wait in anticipation for Nibe to give us more of what we love. - Sub.Mission

Distant bongos form the backbone of ‘Gravitate’, pinching the listener before the energetic power of a kick and its warmly enriched low end punch out to surprise the listener. Reverb is used to create a tremendous amount of space that’s topped by morphing rhythmic patterns. Smoothly programmed arpeggiators combine with the synths that induce an almost dream-like state in the unprepared listener.

“As the percussion passes through like a locomotive, it announces the arrival of ‘Shokunin’, supporting by a centered sub-layer that follows the percussion’s pace without a care in the world. Gorgeous keys create a subtle intro in ‘On Deck’, as a thick low end teases the eardrums with gentle vibrations right before the first drop. Its half-step character shouts, while a mysterious vibe passes into a dark and transparent flow that could remind us of cold and gloomy winter nights. An enthralling voice enslaves the mind, while a trumpet creates a peaceful atmosphere.

“The reese that travels through the sound field points to the light that shines upon every element, proving that the soul of ‘Inner Self’ is more than just alive. ‘Sand Snake’ highlights a completely different side of Subtle Mind, reflecting true madness without any submission. An intelligent groove wraps around the listener’s ears, while ever-present midranges keep the organic feeling protected. This is a quite remarkable production – you’ve been warned.”

We’ve not even witnessed the effect America’s new wave of dubstep producers and labels will have on the development of our scene. But, given the quality of the music we’ve seen from Subtle Mind, AxH, EshOne (and the many others we’ve featured), and labels like TUBA and Dubs Alive, we’re excited to see what happens in the next couple of years. These guys have taken our sound and made it their own.

Let’s embrace this international development with arms wide open, and as we like to do here at FKOF, we’d like to let the music speak for itself. Buy Subtle Mind’s ‘Gravitate’ EP from Juno here while you’re at it. - FatKidOnFire

Destination San Francisco as Tuba invite dubstep duo Subtle Mind to the fray for some forward-thinking bass science. Initiating with earnest, the title track is a unique fusion of tropical 4/4 and halfstep murkery laced with iced-out pads and eerie processes. Further on "Shokunin" takes a more traditional riddim route while lush, jazzed out chords wrap themselves around the snake-like percussion while "On Deck" takes us to slo-mo central with a wonderfully sludgy, cinema-level of emotive beat craft. Finally "Inner Self" explores the heritage of breakbeats and horns while "Sand Snake" provides a slinky finale with percussive aplomb. - JunoDownload

Hailing from California in the USA, Subtle Mind is the collaborative work of two producers Paul & Austin. This EP marks their first release with Tuba Records. The labels’ brand was formulated by Ric ‘Bakir’ in 2010, and has featured releases from some seasoned veterans as well as newly emerging talent. Tuba Records already boasts a well-rounded discography from artists such as TRUTH, J:Kenzo, DJG, Moldy, Daega Sound, The Spit Brothers, NoahD, Roommate, Compa, Prism and now Subtle Mind. The Gravitate EP showcases perfectly Subtle Mind’s diverse production skills as well as their taste in sound design.

The EP starts off with the title track ‘Gravitate’. It launches into deeply reverberated tribal drums and subtle vinyl crackle. Each hit of the drum lingers with a dubwise sensation. Vibrant accents in atmosphere bounce around empty space between the drum work. The tune drops into a deep abyssal of thick, bass driven drum kicks and a heavy undertone of low frequency bass pressure. Clean high hats soaked with a metallic reverb, punch through alongside firm snares, bringing together a dubby & dancehall influenced tribal tune. ‘Gravitate’ carries all the necessary vibes to get the dance floor shifting in a state of disarray.

‘Shokunin’ comes into play with warm, soothing synth pads. The tune captures bottomless vibes from point insertion, quickly formulating into a moody half step vibe. Strong melodic notes wrap themselves around tightly knit drum work. A gentle touch of synth exists around thought brooding harmony that Subtle Mind has worked into this track. I really enjoy the lead melody in this track. It melts into the rhythm. The movement in the drum work ties together wondrously with atmosphere created. Already after track 2, this EP puts forth a more intellectual presence. These tracks each signify a more though evoking approach to writing dubstep, and it is refreshing to hear it come through the music like so.

Track 3 takes it even deeper and more moody. ‘On Deck’ takes the listener deep into the cerebral, ushering a strong contemplative attitude. Soft shakers paired with the emotive feeling of the keyboards bring together an almost depressive & reflective energy. Following the drop the vibe pushes on with beautifully crafted horns. Mellow jazzy elements are showcased as apart of the background in ‘On Deck’. The feeling drawn together resonates of reflective thought and sincere emotion. Late night vibes through and through with this track, as I am sure it would be suited for the headphones on a rainy day.

‘Inner Self’ finds itself’ as track 4 on the EP. This tune grew on me rather quickly. I have always been drawn to the jazzier side of the music. The track begins with a grand scale of atmospheric presence. The intro carries a diva like vocal through the speakers with a nice 2-step drum pattern in the foreground. Subtle Mind was on point with the vibes when they created this track. It truly possesses a deep, trance inducing presence. The percussion breaks assimilate brilliantly with the vocal touch and horns. I refuse to believe that there is a person out there that would find this track un-appealing, ‘Inner Self’ reflects upon the deeper end of the music. This tune leaves a lasting impression and is sure to instill some serious thoughts into the open-minded listener.

Last but not least is ‘Sand Snake’. This is probably my first pick off the Gravitate EP from Subtle Mind. The track starts with a swift tribal pattern and an eastern influence from the duduk, which it’s an Armenian clarinet. The synth work pushes forward a sense of precedence, almost like they are foreshadowing the progression in the phrases that follow. Deep & archaic vibes coexist with vintage mid-ranges, dense with effects remind me of productions of the past - still the track has a fresh vibe to it altogether. Paired with the drum work, the bass weight fosters a serious movement. Clever pauses of silence highlight the minimalistic elements of the track, as the pauses are followed by subtle progression with the drum work and synth pads.

The Gravitate EP from Subtle Mind is available from all online music retailers. Make sure to get connected with Tuba Records & Subtle Mind. Shouts out to Paul & Austin, as well as Bakir! - Trusik