Greymatter - Mind Over Matter

This debut from English newcomer Grematter is a wonderfully eclectic bundle of beats. Smokey broken beat prevails on Raw Root, familiar samples drifting in and out of the mix while those live drum loops chatter and stutter wonderfully, while things get bruk-out with the wiggling electro leads of Watch This (featuring the late great Domu – retired now, not deceased). Want baile funk? Eu Fumo is a chunky beast on that theme – Deize Tigrona’s vocal sounding pretty standard but doing the trick nonetheless (the diversity and skill of baile MCing was never touted as its strong point after all). It’s a raucous, saucy affair.
 
Want classy deep dubstep? Greymatter does it with serious aplomb. When I Was Lost focuses around an addictive, chattering beat that sounds like its falling down the stairs, and atmospheric snippets of soulful crooning, while Too Much focuses on the dub-side of things, big booming sub and far-off vocal samples echoing in the background, underneath wooden snares. The second Domu collaboration, We Are One, continues the theme – deep, contemplative, and with large amounts of thunderous sub. Lovers of Digital Mystikz and Kode 9 will dig.
 
The album rounds off with TRG’s wobbly breaksy remix of Believe In Something (with Heidi Vogel), bringing this excellent debut to a rousing climax. The balance of darker tones and uplifting dancefloor tracks works brilliantly, and Greymatter’s skill with sampling and synth work are clear for all to see.