Dubstef

JIM CARROLLreviews BASS CLEF

May the Bridges I Burn Light the Way Blank Tapes ****

Ralph Cumbers made plenty of friends with his debut album (A Smile Is a Curve That Straightens Most Things), but it was the live show he trucked around from stage to stage that really set out his stall. For his second album with an equally long title, Cumber takes directions from the wonky, woozy, cheery carnival vibe of those one-man- band bass'n'brass expeditions. It's a noticeable leap forward, with the producer now having the confidence – and probably cop-on – to know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em when it comes to those spiky basslines, fierce drums and boisterous grooves. The dancehall that Cumbers frequents in his mind is a place best explored with reverb, dub and effects, and tracks such as Gasoline in My Head . . . , Kiss Meand You Do My HeadIn map his fascination with tweaking the bass. But Cumbers can also do the big atmospheric shuffle, as the iscene-setting Halliwick shows. www.myspace.com/ bassclefbass

Download tracks: Gasoline In My Head . . . , You Do My Head In, Halliwick