Review Summary: Big Beat is back.
Everyone who said Big Beat died in the '90s, say hello to UK producer Run Riot. He mixes samples and dubstep basslines for a fusion of classic breakbeat and the modern dubstep craze. The Lose Yourself EP is Run Riot's first release on Skint Recordings, and it really shows off his style.
And it's definitely an interesting style. For the most part, Run Riot's take on dubstep is less modern and more classic, the way UK dubstep originally sounded. The one exception is the brosteppy "Fire Flies", which is also the only collaboration on the EP and, not coincidentally, the track I like the least. It's just too generic.
The rest of the EP, however, sounds fresh and original. "Survive the Drop" is an entirely big beat song with guitar and organ samples and chopped-up vocals that brings back so many memories of the '90s dance scene. "London Riots" combines breakbeats with a surprisingly clean wobble bass line to very funky effect. "Lose Yourself" continues the trend of breakbeat dubstep with the same sort of bassline, a slower tempo, and some lovely female vocals. The closing track "A Light Goes Off" was remixed by Run Riot himself and featured in the game Need for Speed: Most Wanted, and having heard both, I can say that the remix is actually far superior to the original. Not to say that the original isn't all right on its own, though - featuring what I think are Run Riot's own vocals, a dubstep structure, and surprisingly wub-free drops that give a sort of heavy indie dance feel to the song.
Overall? If this EP is a good indicator of what Run Riot is planning to release in the future, then we may be looking at a revival of the 90's breakbeat scene with a new twist.
