Clubroot – Clubroot

The beginning of "Low Pressure Zone" sounds exactly like the Gears of War menu music.

Well I can see why Clubroot gets compared to Burial. The beats and moods are very similar but the big difference is that Clubroot thrives much more on electronics in his tracks, while Burial's sound is more organic. This album is considered dubstep but it goes far beyond that genre in most cases. There are a lot of cinematic qualities in the tracks. Some use voice samples from movies and others just trigger memories of past movie soundtracks you've heard. There is something really special about the energy in his music. So yes, I can see why someone would think Clubroot is just a Burial copycat and not even bother with him... But I really think that would be a mistake. This album is easily one of my top picks from 2009. Clubroot is a name to watch out for in the future.

The obvious comparisons are going to be made here and I'm sure the producer himself would admit more than just a glancing nod to the man who is Burial.

Unlike the first Burial album, this is not breaking any particularly new ground but that doesn't diminish the quality of the album. These are incredibly well crafted tunes that are impeccably produced and some of the sounds used are just breathtaking.

From the first track you get drawn into a sonic landscape not unlike that of Aphex Twins 'selected ambient works 2' - a minute of layered synths and reverb before the bass and percussion kick in and we realise that this is a dubstep album that is to be enjoyed as much from the armchair as the club setting.

The next 4 tracks build on the ideas and atmosphere of the first track. The bass is SUBterranean- like shackleton at his very best- if you ever want to test the isolation of your speakers forward to track 3 and listen for your walls rattling. If there is going to be a vinyl release these tracks would make for an incredible first side- just unrelentless.

As with any great album though the pace has to give way at some stage and the listener is given some respite with track 6 before things get back to it with the following track. For me track 8 is the weakest track and the album loses its momentum somewhat towards the end- you find yourself wanting to skip back to the beggining of the album, but all in all this is a very engaging album and one which I have played to death since it arrived a few weeks ago.

Yes this is a derivative album, but, unlike many groundbreaking albums, the ideas and sounds used are cohesive and are crafted into well structured songs that can be enjoyed in isolation or as part of the whole. If this isn't my album of the year I can't wait to hear what is going to better it.