OPTIMUS GRYME: Eclipse

By Kate Foster

For those as yet uninitiated to the world of dubstep, welcome to your 101 class. With ‘Eclipse’ Optimus Gryme (aka Charlie B) will take you through the essential elements of this fast emerging drum ’n bass sub culture. The 15-year soldier of the cause for the drum ’n bass, hip hop and now dubstep circles here (via his work with Offbeat Records, Uprising Records or his contributions to Kiwi FM, Infusion or the defunct TV show Roll) fearlessly writes, produces and engineers all the tracks on this album, truly creating his vision of luscious, bass-dripping dubstep. Getting Evan Short on board to complete the project has polished it to an ethereal beauty with not a beat out of place. It is obvious however that while Optimus Gryme is demonstrating his chops for the genre requirements he sways into exciting territory with soaring piano arrangements, a creepy ambient remix of blockbuster Immortal courtesy of Truth and the achingly beautiful rendition of Deep Song originally voiced by Billie Holiday, performed and freshened here by Fiona Soe Paing. Partner in rhyme Billy Fluid drops a solid freestyle on Emotions and the delightful bass glugg on Surreal, like the rest of the album, is not to be missed.

Related Information

Issues

NZ Musician

August/September 2009