Released: 06/04/10

In recent years, dubstep seems to have begun to fall into two distinct categories. The wobble centric club bangers produced by the likes of Skream and Rusko et al. and those taking a more measured approach and exploring the scope for experimentation within the genre. This debut release from Sara Abel- Hamid, aka Ikonika, definitely falls into the latter category.

Whilst much has been made of Ikonika’s gender, there is certainly a deftness of touch present here which has been absent from many of the genres big guns in recent times. The album is made up of melodic synth lines, lurking bass and omnipresent throughout the record, computer blip noises reminiscent of playing Mario Cart back in 92. Like dubstep’s other major young stalwart, Joker, there is a clear influence of 90s  RnB present in the mix.

Whilst the computer blips may become a little tiresome as the record progresses and the album doesn’t quite grace the heights of Hamid’s label mate, Burial’s productions (a hard act to follow if there ever was one), this debut is certainly worth a look and proves to be an interesting next step in a genre which shows little sign of paying attention to its boundaries.

www.myspace.com/ikonika

www.hyperdub.net

Sean Griffiths