- The 2nd Drop label was one of many born out of dubstep's early surge of momentum. In the years since, though, it's struggled to gain broad recognition for its releases, which tend to focus on deep, nocturnal interpretations of the UK's current sonic concerns. Perhaps that's unjust, as the imprint's output has always been solid—as illustrated by 12-inches from Tessela, DjRUM and South London Ordnance in the past year. The latter two appear here on the label's first compilation. Of the three 12-inches that make up Future Foundations, parts 1 and 2 showcase the dreamy house and post-dubstep hybrids that have been the label's bread and butter. Part 3, though, has a slightly rougher edge to it, bringing together three tracks that wear their debt to London's musical heritage on their collective sleeve.
DjRUM's "Blue On Blue (Voodoo)" rolls in characteristically smooth repose, its luxurious texture punctuated with vocal samples and subtle 303 curlicues. What's surprising is the distant threat of a Reese bassline that grumbles mournfully in the spaces between sampled percussion and velvety dub chords. South London Ordnance shows a characteristic emphasis on frosty atmospherics and sub weight in "Daphne," whose chunky percussion and hollowed-out bass stabs are a close cousin of Beneath. Finally, Manni Dee and Deft's "This One, The Art Of The Impossible" is the odd one out, galloping at a frenetic 160 BPM. A looped patois sample lends a bit of a UK hardcore flavour—the track certainly has hardcore's rabid intensity—but the brisk kick and detailed percussion are more indebted to both footwork and dubstep's sense of flow.
TracklistA DjRUM – Blue on Blue (Voodoo)
B1 South London Ordnance - Daphne
B2 Manni Dee & Deft - This One, The Art of the Possible