A feeble attempt at reviewing the brand new Offworld Transmissions Volume 3 album.
This album starts off just as lush and expansive as I hoped. Seathesky is one of those 'can't do wrong' producers for me and he opens the album with the sublimely liquid 'Contact'. This song is a collaboration with Nelver (a Russian based producer) whom I was previously unfamiliar with and after a visit to his soundcloud I could see why Seathesky would want to collaborate with him - he has serious chops and traditional/classical training. Anyways, back to the song at hand. ‘Contact’ is, to me, the essence of Drum and Bass; if a person were to ask me what Drum and Bass was I would show them this track. An almost mysterious intro pushes forward to a silky smooth bassline that is topped by an ethereal piano and some disparate vocals. This opener does not disappoint.
Bone makes another appearance after featuring on Offworld Transmissions Volume 2 with the track 'without you'. In this installment he brings 'This Time' and it's a small departure from what I've grown accustomed to. It contains some female vocals, but they are more linear and poignant than the typical atmospheric vocal stabs he uses - at least in the intro, once the chorus hits 'this time' is repeated and effected in various ways to move the song forward without becoming stagnant.
Phat Playaz makes his debut for the Transmissions series, but is a longtime favorite of Allan Cowie (LM1) who is a label honcho at Offworld Records. This song, 'Seperation', follows suit with the album with its velvety smoothness and its peppered-in vocals.
Scenic & Advisory make their obligatory appearance on the Transmissions 3 album as with every one before it. And, as much as a didn't want to say this, the track 'Skin Deep' itself seems a bit obligatory. While the production is great and the soundscape is massive this is the kind of song that gets lost on a compilation like this. While I've always appreciated artists knowing their place and not trying to outshine others (that opening DJ at 9PM playing peak stuff to an empty room) this track just doesn't bring enough to the table to be remembered beyond a shrug and half smile that says: "Yeah, it was pretty good.”
