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Article by Mitchell Buchanan

I love dreaming when I fall asleep. Not only does it make the whole sleeping thing a lot less boring, but I love experiencing whatever it is that my brain decides I need to see. I even think nightmares are pretty fun – but that’s probably due to an unhealthy love of horror movies in general. On January 2 of 2012, long-time dubstep heavyweight Vaski released an EP on Rottun Records that showcased his own haunting dreamscapes. This Minneapolis producer put together five tracks for Dreamworld (Nightmare) that feature deep bass, scratching wobbles, piercing effects, and some unbelievable vocals. Dreamworld (Nightmare) is a step in a new direction for Vaski, but it nevertheless showcases his impeccable veteran production skills and his ability to explore this idea of “electro-derived dubstep.” So close your eyes, turn on your sound systems, and enter into the Dreamworld of Vaski – explore his mind at its most creative… and most alarming.

“Limitless” opens up the EP with a blazing drumstep banger. Featuring vocals from Audiodasity, this hip-hop infused bass assault begins with staccato synths playing an ominous chord progression. The drums quickly move in to provide deep, heavy kicks, snappy snares, and hi-hats that click just a little off the downbeat, maintaining the intensity of a drum & bass rhythm with the heavy power of dubstep drums. Soon, powerful winds sweep away most of the instrumentation, leaving behind a deep, intense bass tone and an eerie, lullaby-like melody – perfect for the coming vocal introduction. An electronic effect shrouds the voices in mystery as they sing the chorus, while the bass begins to emerge from the depths. It rises up behind the vocals, slowly modulating, becoming unsteady – the kick drum fires like a series of cannons going off one-by-one, and we’re pushed into the drop. Audiodasity drops lines over Vaski’s dual-attack of bass and mid-range weaponry. Switching between steady tones and unstable, earth-quaking ones, Vaski provides a soundscape like none other for Audiodasity’s powerful lyrical stylings.

“Breakdown” sets the pace right with another dark and brooding melody. Two sets of chords provide rhythm and tone, while a melody line plays over top. The emergence of the kick drum signals the arrival of two things – firstly, it’s our initial taste of bass in this track. Up until this point, there had been no bass at all, and even through the build-up we’re left with only the kicks to pleasure our subwoofers. Secondly, these kicks announce the impending arrival of the drop – and what’s on the other side is utterly mind-blowing. A funky, shuffling beat changes the pace from the initial marching rhythm, and the bass tones fire between downbeats to match this non-traditional beat. Through the high and mid-ranges, a series of alarms match the bass notes to provide an undeniably intense, full-spectrum sonic experience. 

One of the great things about working for Dubstep.NET is that I get exposure to a ton of music, and this exposure allows me to analyze tracks and figure out what elements of each track really get my heart pumping. In “Hydra,” I could tell right away what these elements were. Using Vaski’s unrivalled mastery of pairing synths with bass lines, the drop in “Hydra” starts off with a perfectly-executed set of violently descending notes. The track showcases variations on this technique throughout, but it’s the very first one that really gave me goosebumps. Part of that is probably due to Sara Laske’s beautiful vocals, flowing in just before the 30-second mark and carried by the electro-style synth work, her clear, melodic voice serves as a perfect contrast to the harsh, aggressive synths that follow the drop. But it’s just not synths that make this track aggressive – various sound effects bounce and whistle around in the higher registers, sometimes bubbling, sometimes piercing, but always keeping the energy at an all-time high.

The fourth track brings Audiodasity back into the mix for another round of blazing lyricism.A full vocal track, “Dreamworld (Nightmare)” features stunning, stumbling, metallic bass wobbles and a simple yet explosive drum line. Audiodasity speaks about waking up in the Dreamworld and having to survive its treacherous, ever-changing landscape. Vaski’s provided an incredible soundscape for this song – the unsteady wobbles feel fluid, unpredictable, like a lucid dream state; the drums are powerful but slow and simple, as if they’re the sleeping heartbeat that pushes oxygen through the song, allowing us to continue dreaming. The sweeping synths provide a chilling atmosphere to accompany the track, their smooth, minor chords ebb in and out between verses to remind us that even if the action of the dream has subsided, we’re not quite able to return to reality – not just yet in any case.

The finale, “Hardstyle”, maintains the deep, dark atmosphere of the previous track, but the chilling feeling of unpreparedness has completely disappeared. Instead, we’re given a futuristic track that opens with single notes, forming an ominous melody that’s soon accompanied by multiple synth lines and a crisp vocal sample. As the track builds up, a jarring, disruptive note rises from the abyss – as if we’ve awakened a monster on an alien planet, disrupting its ancient slumber. The monster opens its cavernous mouth to let a growl escape its throat, and we hit the drop as it begins to unleash it’s roar. Scratching, aggressive mid-range wobbles switch between triplets and steady eighth notes as the percussion keeps a driving 4/4 dubstep beat. After a barrage of sonic machine-gun fire, the initial melody makes its way back to the fore – only this time it’s carried along by the rhythm of the drums. As the track fades out, we’re left with the drums and a bouncing bass line, pulsing like a heartbeat after an utterly terrifying encounter.

Vaski’s electro-infused dubstep has certainly taken on a new form recently – but at Dubstep.NET, we think it’s great to see producers explore and expand their musical creativity. Dreamworld (Nightmare) is therefore a welcome addition to our collection of music. Not only does this solidify Vaski’s production talent, it also proves that he’s able and willing to move beyond his own niche and explore other hidden corners of the dubstep world. This EP has bangers; it has some wicked hip-hop; it has eerie soundscapes. But at the very heart of it all, it has Vaski’s unique and incredibly distinctive fingerprint. I mean, who wouldn’t want these songs providing a soundtrack to their own Dreamworld?

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