Starkey featured on Radio 1's "Building The Beat"

Philadelphia's very own Starkey has been featured on Mary Anne Hobbs's new segment "Building The Beat". Basically, she challenges producers to write and record a track completely from scratch using samples contributed by Radio 1 DJs, artists and listeners. Oh, and they have to do it all in just 2 hours during a live show recorded at BBC Maida Vaile.



He was joined by vocalist Anneka and percussionist and dubstep producer Reso to build the ultimate dubstep track, all within the confines of a two hour show. Download the results below and check out the pics on the Radio 1 website as the track unfolds.

Finally, listen below to hear his unbelievably ace new track 'CoRoT-9b' taken from the 'Universal' EP. The new EP remains something of a mystery but will be available in full for free on Amon Tobin's website as of August this year. So keep checking back there!

CoRoT-9b by Starkey

Download: Starkey - Building The Beat

Ital Tek's second LP out on Planet Mu

Drawing from the IDM end of the dubstep/bass spectrum, Brighton's own Ital Tek returns with his second full length album on Planet Mu. The new LP 'Midnight Colour' sees a slower BPM of just 130 and a more upbeat mood.

The album still retains the dark synths and basic rhythms whilst exploring gentler synth sounds with more bass. There's even some 2-tech-step-whatever on 'Strangelove'. The final track on the album is 'Restless Tundra' which features vocals from Anneka, a rising star in the electronica scene having recorded some amazing tracks with Starkey earlier this year for his second LP.

Download: Ital Tek - Babel

Second Starkey single from 'Ear Drums & Black Holes'

If there's one artist who continues to surprise me and exceed my expectations it's Starkey. His new single 'Stars' (out March 8th on Planet Mu), featuring Anneka on vocals is taken from the forthcoming album 'Ear Drums & Black Holes' (out April 19th) and builds on the brilliance of his debut.

The title track 'Stars' is a very laidback, almost housey affair with an ethereal tint. Slugabed's remix, however, really adds something the original lacks, bringing out the bassy noisiness and launching it in to more club-friendly territory. Clearly, Kieran "Four Tet" Hebden is an influence on Geissinger as the fluttering synths and gentle melodies mark a more introverted departure from the snare-heavy grime of olde.

That's not to say Starkey has abandoned heavy bass music, the b-side 'Starting Gates' sees him create what can only be described as "drillstep". The grimey, arpeggiated synths made famous on his first LP risk getting lost in the rest of the layers at times but this arguably only adds to the bass-heavy thump of it.

This is a date you should really mark in your diary because it might just be better than 'Ephemeral Exhibits'. And with any luck it'll mark the demise of that godawful subgenre "ravestep".

While you wait, tuck into this preview he posted on his Soundcloud page: