Damscray - Make Dem Rhythm (2021)

Great sequels take time. Think about Terminator 2, Before Sunset or Return to Oz. They all surpassed the originals – which were great in their own right – but required years of reflection and hard work on the part of the creators. Damscray understands this. His previous EP for Hyperboloid, Make Me Juke, was released ten years ago. Its bursts of energy are still fascinating today but it remains, in some senses, a straightforward footwork record.

Make Dem Rhythm marks the opening of a new chapter for Damscray, and is one of his first releases since 2013. The musician claims that at some point he simply stopped releasing music, but has been working on various projects all this time. It shows: this new album feels like the work of a master who doesn’t want to bind himself to any particular genre. Technically it’s still a footwork record like its predecessor, but you can hear strong influences of jungle, dub, reggae and Warp-like IDM. Imagine Squarepusher doing footwork and you’d be on the right path to understanding Damscray’s new sound. The structures of the tracks are constantly twisting and turning, while lo-fi samples collide with glossy beats. In his own words, “I still think that juke and footwork have the best vibe in electronic music,” and you can certainly feel this vibe throughout Make Dem Rhythm.