Skream: Midnight Request Line (Import) Vinyl 12″

Original Lab review:

Huge track right here. When I first heard “Midnight Request Line,” I put it on loop and zoned out to it for hours. The intoxicating melody and sinister bass transformed me into a total bass fiend. I tried to find more dubstep (shout to Mathhead for hooking it up) that I could get into – but I couldn’t get this one out of my system. I knew then I was hooked – on the subway, at the Lab – I couldn’t get enough of this new crack. It reminded me of the freshness and hardness that once was in the old days of drum and bass – but Skream had modernized it, taking the best elements of d&b (BASS!), infusing it with dubby sci-fi shit and that thuggy half-time bounce to drive the bass heads crazy. I later found out that this is apparently an anthem in the dubstep/grime scene from ’05, but still thoroughly rocks the scene hard – and it’s clear to see why. Those infectious synth melodies and seething bass combined with the neck-breaking kick/gunshot/snare combo make this an absolute killer. B-Side features “I” – more dark, rugged shit from Skream. Step to this.

• black 12″ vinyl pressing
• UK import
• limited edition
• original release year: 2005
• music label: Tempa 2026

reviewed by snackmaster 05/2006