Dusk & Blackdown - RollageLive Vol. 1: Nightfall (2020)

dusk + blackdown "rollagelive vol 1: nightfall" [keysound recordings] Keysound co-founders Dusk + Blackdown are proud to announce "RollageLive vol 1: Nightfall", a dubplate-ridden project of dark 130bpm rollage. It aims for the sweet spot between a longer-lived artist album and an in-the moment live DJ mix - yet accessible without needing a vinyl deck, CD drive or a tape player. Like an artist album, all of the "RollageLive vol1..." tracks were produced, remixed or refixed by the London-based duo - with an exclusive Rinse FM-inspired collaboration with New Zealand's Ebb thrown in. Almost all the tracks are exclusive to this project, including some VIPs, to ensure maximum upfront freshness. But like a tape pack or mix CD, it was then recorded live in one continuous take at 130bpm in Rinse FM's main studio, mastered by dubstep legend Jason @ Transition and chopped up into tracks for a more permanent place in listeners' mobile lives. It attempts to create something a little more enduring in an era of infinite ephemeral audio-abundance. Musically, the mix fits Keysound enduring mission: an exploration of just how much could be possible at 130bpm, from weightless (ambient) to dense dubby halfsteppers, via percussive rollers, driving Jersey club kicks to jump up bangers. And lasers: there's lots of lasers. While most DJs choose, it pushes on both sides of the often oppositional polarities of "drop v groove", "communal dancefloor v personal listening" and "vocal v instrumental." Thematically, while the 130 space is wide open, the project is deliberately focused: dark and uncompromising, but with occasional flecks of light and hope. Subsequent editions of the series may explore more chromatic themes. "rollagelive vol 1: nightfall" editors' notes Inspired by the focused DJ artistic statements of the FabricLive CDs, grime & jungle "tape packs" and early Hatcha mixes, the release's "RollageLive..." title is a respectful nod to the now complete Fabric series of the same name. Ten years since Keysound began testing the creative possibilities of 130bpm, the underground is bubbling. DJs from across the dance music spectrum are experimenting with darker, bassy rolling flavours in their sets from Walton to Darwin, Zenker Brothers, Skee Mask & Pinch. The More Cowbell Facebook group's growth spills over into club nights & streams. Dusk + Blackdown have played sets in London, Bristol, Berlin, Denver & Montreal in recent times. Following 3x rollage EPs with Dusk, Blackdown's last full release was his weightless "Those Moments" LP (2017), but he contributed productions to Otik's "Top Ten" (2018) and Vern & Milla's "Untouchable" (2019) EPs on Keysound. The label has been throwing bi-annual "off grid" raves at a secret location in London with Loose Lips - the next is April 4th w/Otik, Ahadadream, Eich & more. In 2019 the duo's Rinse FM show - running monthly since 2008 - switched to a format of improvised 130bpm b2b sets featuring to date Ahadadream, Holloway, Jelly Bean Farm (USA), Ebb (NZ), Lyeform, Vern & Milla, SPD, Eich & Mulengasound. The ad-libbed b2b's seek to find new happy accidents by exploring the differences & similarities of contrasting musical approaches at the tempo, on the fly. Not unlike "RollageLive vol 1: Nightfall."