In a way I feel wrong. DJ /rupture, aka Jace Clayton, really didn't catch my interest, because I'd filed him off in the "less than laid back" category of drum n bass DJs. I did dig his work with DD as Nettle, but Nettle was appropriately prickly. Maybe my bias had something to do with /rupture's name, but it wasn't everything. It's been a while now that he's been evolving, and over time, /rupture's style has expanded from a basis of bass and breakbeats into a wider, deeper pool of emotions. Now that his collaborations with Matt Shadetek have produced the Solar Life Raft, I'd just be sleeping if I didn't pay close attention now.

1. Timeblind, Matt Shadetek "Space Cadet, Strength In Numbers"
2. Jahdan Blakkamoore "For The Souls"
3. Gang Gang Dance, Cauto "Bebey (DJ/Rupture & Matt Shadetek Remix), Despertar"
4. Paavoharju "Urusulan Uni"
5. Stagga, Babylon System "The Bad Dance, Get On Up"
6. Cardopusher "Green Disorder"
7. DJ /rupture & Matt Shadetek "Underwater High Rise"
8. Pumajaw, Various Production "Buds (Various Production Remix)"
9. Timeblind, Matt Shadetek "Coltan & Cassiterite, Nightshade"
10. Caroline Bergvall "More Pets"
11. Noah D & Roomate "Street Sound"
12. Matt Shadetek, Hildegard Westerkamp "Shield Dub, Breathing Room"
13. Nico Muhly "Mothertongue: Pt. 1"
14. Mizz Beats "Blue Night"
15. Pulshar "Mr. Money Man"
16. Shackleton, DJ /Rupture "Into The Void (DJ/Rupture Remix)"
17. DJ /rupture & Matt Shadetek "4th Story Waterline"
18. Luc Ferrari "Archives Génétiquement Modifées Part 2"
19. Jahdan Blakkamoore "Long Road (Lion Dub & Matt Shadetek Remix)"
20. Matty G, DJ /Rupture, Lloop "Layin' In Bed, Overture: Watermelon City Feat. Elizabeth Alexander, Autumn Rain"
21. DJ /Rupture "El Verdugo"
22. Telepathe "In Your Line (DJ/Rupture & Matt Shadetek Remix)"

To start with, Solar Life Raft is a continuous DJ mix. But not like you're thinking. /rupture's style of mixing makes use of three turntables, where typically one provides the percussive elements, another provides a capella and ambient vocal bits, while the third provides atmospheric and ambient instrumentation. It's a complex scheme, that's naturally never that cut and dried, but the result mixes as much as produces brand new songs, but /rupture has been working it long enough to really be a master.

What really works in this mix is its cohesive variety. I'm not just talking about how it moves smoothly from dubstep heavy dub and reggae, to warbling, mellow, breakbeats, but how it also moves into alternating moments of serene and darkly painted ambient atmospheres. This mix displays an extreme maturity in the exploration and understanding of a wide variety of musical styles.

Throughout Solar Life Raft you'll find some original productions by /rupture and Shadetek, both individually and as a duo. The sound they produce is not surprisingly complementary to the selections of other artists around them. I'm tempted to reach back to that iconic, dark quality of Blade Runner to explain it. It isn't like a pure action flick, or a cliche sci-fi flick, because for as many chases, you have subplots and suspense to get you ready for it. For every altered reality, there is equal reality.

Solar Life Raft really deserves your full attention. Drop most of your preconceived ideas about what you'll hear. Just wait for sundown, or the hour before a good, brooding storm rolls in and open your mind. You should definitely be listening to it.

If you want to dig deeper, get your click on the Solar Life Raft: The Ingredients compilation, where are a lot of the unmixed, original tracks are available (digital only).

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