Review: Skream – Outside the Box
Skream - Outside the Box (2010) [Tempa] // Grade: A
Dubstep has yet to be graced with a record that defines the genre, yet Skream’s Outside The Box may well have finally achieved this status. From subtle opener ‘Perforated’, to the finale of ‘Epic Last Song’, Skream’s Outside the Box ranks among the best album releases of 2010, blending dubstep with UK funky, future garage and drum and bass. Skream’s ability to give the nod to all sub genres and categories that contributed to the worldwide phenomenon that is now termed Dubstep, is an indicator of his versatility as an artist, and reaffirms his position as one of the founding fathers of Croydon’s dubstep scene.
Following the overwhelming success of his La Roux “In For The Kill”remix, a track that put dubstep on the map in 2009, Skream collaborates with a grip of artists on this new record, ranging from Sam Frank to Freckles and La Roux. Skream’s artistic freedom is demonstrated two tracks in, with hip-hop tinged dub “8 Bit Baby” a collaboration with LA based rapper Murs. No stranger to hype, Skream’s been receiving a lot of props lately for his Magnetic Man side-project with Artwork and Benga; whose hotly anticipated debut album is due for release this November via Columbia. However, his not being signed to a major label as a solo artist, seems to be Skream’s biggest strength, giving him more room to push the envelope.
Outside The Box is a piece of work worthy of it’s title; as the box resembles a genre saturated by producers in seek of the heaviest wobble. Yet Skream does the precise opposite; the heaviest track “Wibbler” is sandwiched in the middle of the record, and is more in tune with his recent Freeizm EPs, The rest of the release is both mellow and well executed, the 128 BPM orchestral vibes of “A Song For Lenny” juxtapose brilliantly with future garage anthem “The Epic Last Song”; a pacey banger rounding off the record. Whether you’re a fan of dubstep or not, this album is a must for all electronic music enthusiasts, and offers a variety of future directions for a growing genre in the current musical climate.
