footsie: king original vol 2

Second installment in the King Original series (first edition awarded 5/5 in Mixmag). Eighteen previously-unreleased Footsie instrumentals. Includes tracks that originally contained vocals by Dizzee Rascal and Maverick Sabre. With renewed focus on its producers, the grime scene -- now approaching its tenth year -- is in rude health. One of the artists leading the instrumental charge is Footsie, a veteran of the grime and dubstep scenes whose beats have been the toast of live shows and radio sets for years. In March of 2013, King Original Vol. 1 -- a compilation of classic unreleased material -- saw Footsie claim Mixmag's coveted "Dubstep Album of the Month" accolade. And having gone back, Footsie's ready to go forward. King Original Vol. 2 is an exploration of grime, bass, and dubstep with swing and bounce at its core. Beats used by platinum-selling artist Dizzee Rascal and Maverick Sabre start proceedings, ensuring levels are set from the off. A couple of classic unreleased Newham General beats -- "Violence" and "Move to the Beat" -- follow, which will undoubtedly please heads on the underground. Channeling that raw, uncompromising Newham General energy throughout King Original Vol. 2, Footsie shows just how adept he is behind the boards, drawing from decades of experience and fusing together forgotten elements of dub, jungle, and bass line to create fresh, vibrant sounds. On "Congo" and "No Matter," Footsie even pays homage to his roots and the reggae music that first inspired him to become a musician, with deep, chugging bass lines and sweet melodies that ooze real depth. It is in this mode that his ear for a great riddim really shines. The key to successful artist volumes is progression, and here, Footsie's development as a producer is self-evident, proving that he, and in a wider context, grime, will continue to lead the way in the underground for many years to come.