DJ PINCH aka Rob Ellis is Bristol’s godfather of bass. This man is singularly responsible for bringing more low-frequency rumble into the city than the builders of the M32. Pinch has got to be one of Bristol’s most hard working scenesters; it’s a wonder that he finds time for sleeping between split roles as internationally acclaimed DJ, producer, promoter and label boss of his own Tectonic imprint.

Now widely credited as a father figure in the scene, Pinch was the first to bring the sparse, austere and bass-heavy qualities of south London’s ‘dubstep’ sound into Bristol’s clubland long before its current state of omnipresence existed.

For the uninitiated amongst us, dubstep blossomed from a mutation of London-based garage music and is much darker, moodier and more bass-driven than its predecessor. Nowadays though, dubstep’s musical turbulence can be felt through its exchange of ideas with genres as wide as techno, electronica, drum and bass, and with indie and nu-rave artists such as Hadouken! via ‘grime’ (dubstep’s MC-oriented counterpart, made famous by the likes of Dizzee Rascal).

And for those familiar with dubstep but not with that of the man himself, Pinch looks to offer something different from the mainstream when he DJs, always pushing his unique dance-floor sound. His beats are more skippy and organic than most, more akin to the 2-step sound that dubstep draws influence from, while his own groundbreaking production work often uses vocals to achieve an altogether more soulful, funky feel.

One thing’s for certain, if you’re heading out to see Pinch, expect to get your bass quota filled. As the man himself always says, “if your chest ain’t rattlin’ it ain’t happenin’…”

Catch Pinch live at Dubplate Monthly (the Croft), H.E.N.C.H (Tube) and his own Subloaded clubnights.

www.myspace.com/tectonicrecordings

Ed Williams