It’s been four years since we popped down to JuJu to catch Skream – in the bloody Jazz Rooms! – so it’s not surprising to find dubstep fragmenting into sub-genres. Aka Aka Roar stays away from the ruffneck wobble bass stuff in favour of the more tuneful, intelligent end that melts into 2 step and even techno, known variably as funkstep, techstep, future garage, or melodic dub.
Many of the scenes most interesting names have already been down – including Appleblim, Ramadanman and Untold, meaning that the crowd is right on the dancefloor locked into the music rather than falling around the bar. Normally nights are split between good DJ/progressive music policy or cheap drinks/crazy behaviour, but Aka Aka Roar manages to balance a bit of all of it with a clued up crowd ready for fun and good drink deals. This month your two quid gets you sets from Hyetal, Ben UFO, Bok Bok, and James Blake. A killer start to a new essential midweek session.
TOP TEN
Darkstar ‘Aidy’s Girl Is A Computer’
Shortstuff & Geoim ‘No Hand Signals’
Crystal Fighters ‘I Love London (Brackles Remix)’
Untold ‘Stop What You’re Doing (James Blake Remix)’
Martyn ‘Friedrichstrasse’
Lil Wayne ‘A Milli (Harmonimix)’
Joy Orbison ‘So Derobe’
DVA ‘Ganja’
Mosca ‘Nike’
El-B ‘Buck & Bury’
Monday’s at Life
