SBTRKT - War & Drums (Live at Reading Festival)

I am definitely excited for the new SBTRKT album, "Wonder Where We Land", which is due for release in the UK on 22 September. If I could pinpoint what I found so exciting about SBTRKT in the first place it was the live show. When I saw it a few years ago it was him and Sampha, which really worked. On SBTRKT's first album Sampha provided a good deal of the vocals and in the live environment even in the tracks where other vocalists were featured, such as the Jessie Ware track "Right Thing To Do", Sampha's beautiful vocals added another layer to the live performance. It will be interesting to see what the live show will be like this time around as the second album features a much wider array of vocalists and Sampha is now a much more established artist in his own right, but it is great to note that they did appear together at Reading, but with what looks like additional members adding to the sound. SBTRKT performed at the Reading & Leeds festival this weekend, and this track particularly caught my attention! It features the vocals of Warpaint. The track itself has a beautiful soundscape quality to it. The actual words are pretty hard to make out. It kind of reminds me of something I'd expect to hear from Bat For Lashes in that it has quite a psychedelic/worldbeat type of feel to it, mixed with some other worldly-type synth sounds. The thing about SBTRKT that makes him stand out in live performances is the frenetic energy on stage, whether that is his accomplished drum playing or what looks like a mad-rush as people try to work the electronics! Both elements can be seen quite clearly in this wonderful performance. I will catch the live show on October 2nd at Brixton Academy and I can't wait!

SBTRKT feat. Sampha - Temporary View

As Sampha struck out on his own with 2013's "Dual" EP and as he gained a greater prominence within the music industry I was glad to see it happen, as he is such a great singer, but a thought did hit me; "Would there still be as many collaborations/live performances with SBTRKT?" I caught them live on their last tour and the synergy that the 2 of them had in their live performances was a great site to behold. The beats that SBTRKT creates flow so well with Sampha's voice and "Temporary View" is one of those tracks that SBTRKT does so well, in that it's laid-back, but still retains a bit of an edge. There's an organ sound that sounds so summery and wistful, and combining this with the post-dubstep type of drums and Sampha's soaring voice this is an excellent kick-off to what will hopefully a soon forthcoming second album.

SBTRKT - Trials of the Past

I am really looking forward to this Friday when I am going to see SBTRKT in London. I love Sampha's voice and I love the post-dubstep sound that SBTRKT has created. There's a soulful gentleness to it, but also a funky backbone behind it. I always find it interesting to see how producers of electronic type music replicate the sound live. Samplers, keyboards and Ableton is the accepted way and it is always interesting to see how the acts manipulate the tools at their disposal. Here's a quick taster with "Trials of the Past", from a TV performance about 18 months ago.