- It's been a year of remarkable reinvention and massive progression for Montreal’s Deadbeat with the runaway success of his 'Journeyman’s Annual' set, a surprising and welcome party album after several years of dub and downbeat experimentation. But his next step forward is a look back, with this re-release of the 2003 E.P. 'Disaster in the Dancehall'. It's a record that highlights his glitchy dub roots, with detours into techno terrain of the more North American variety.
The three tracks on 'Disaster...' are all built around determined, uptempo 4/4 beats awash with watery dub sounds that give a welcome organic feel to proceedings. The A-side cut ‘Skematik Skank’ is somewhat more epic and glitchy, but still relentless, whereas ‘Laughing Ghost’ is exactly as the title says, spooky and subterranean in a manner reminiscent of UK magicians and electronic pioneers Coil. Very unsettling. The E.P.´s most strangely named track, ‘Post Nasal Drip’ is also the most closely related to 'Journeyman’s Annual', but still far removed in time and sound, with a battery of delay effects fleshing out the percussion to create a spiralling mirage around one of the most hypnotic bass riffs around.
This E.P. is experimental where 'Journeyman's...' was accessible, but there is enough force in the beats and disquieting warmth in the buried, ambient textures to make it a worthwhile listen if, like me, you missed it the first time around.
TracklistA Skematik Skank
B1 Post Nasal Drip
B2 Laughing Ghost