
From a certain perspective you might call Nettle's "Build a Fort, Set That On Fire" Noise Dub, but be sure and underscore the Noise part of that. With that said, it's not too likely you'll ever file this album "songs to relax to", but everyone's got their thing. This definitely reminds of the power noise sound that started making its way out of Germany in the mid-nineties via labels like Ant-Zen, however, with disturbingly echoed and abstract Middle Eatern vocal cuts along with elements of dub, drum n' bass and various "World" influences mashed up in its sound, Nettle pull off something unique.
Track Listing:
Ensamblaje
Minesweeper Dub
Serranito
Firecamp
Gut
Duende (DJ Scud's in chains remix)
The End of Public Space (feat. Gregory Whitehead)
Chinsplitter
The Ballad of Jimmy Hollin (disco mix)
Defragmentation (bonus track by ESP)
They
Halfstep
Unciviliz
Duppy
Duende
If you happen to be a fan of power noise, you'll actually find "Serranito" to be a great relaxation track. This track features slow distored breaks and synths, shaken up into a generally head-nodding groove.
Among the tracks that really stand out are "Firecamp". It has nice, consistent mellow breaks in a slow build, combined with cut-up, plucked strings, piano stabs, and the occasional round of sharp metallic distortions.
"Gut" (remix of SystemWide's 'Aswan Dub') is definitely a favorite selection here. A mix of Middle Eastern sounds and rhythms, in a distorted hip-hop styled groove. Some of the sounds and sample cuts are a little harsh, but that's Nettle's style.
"Duende (DJ Scud's in chains remix)" comes on with a lush, slow, dub sound, but turns into a noisy, up-tempo piece with a persistently thumping bass kick and super-fast breaks. It's got a style to be heard, but it's definitely nothing to relax to.
Nettle does drops some nice sounds in a variety of serverely cut-up, distorted, and mashed up combinations. If you like your dub noisy, and I mean warzone and factory noisy, with strong Middle Eastern touches, you need to hear this.