Bleep

A stone cold classic in Mala’s discography resurfaces once again for Deep Medi Musik’s fabled MEDI100 release. His 2007 seminal dubstep roller ‘Changes’ gets the white label treatment here, and an instantly recognisable tune like this needs little else; with minimal presentation built for maximum soundsystem destruction.

‘Changes’ constantly pulsates with its kicks and deep murky bass, centred on the imposing and foreboding re-pitched vocal cuts met with tumbling hand drums, and contrasted by grimy flute rising above the clean yet crashing beats. Somehow both meditative and combustive in equal measure, Mala pairs those choir-like octave vocal hits like pipe organs here over simmering low end that charts a clear path between the 2-step and garage of London’s past and the darker, slower, and more turbulent sound that came after.

The flip side’s murky lost cut ‘Jah Power Dub’ went previously unreleased until now which is criminal. The cavernous reverb drenched head-nodding production is simple but with all essential elements in perfect form. A completely hypnotic ode to Jah.

Essential.