Signals
by Wen
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
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  1. Fact Magazine (UK)
    Mar 26, 2014
    60
    There are moments of dynamism, like the excellent quivering steppers’ bassline in ‘Time’, or ‘In’’s disemboweled grime-pulse sounds. But even these tracks feel weighed down by a relentless paranoiac mood that soon begins to tire, their gestures sparse and restrained in a manner that’s presumably meant to be evocative, but often just feels unadventurous.

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  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
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  1. Tapefunction
    Apr 28, 2016
    9
    In Loefah's remix of The Bug and Flowdan's, "Jah War," released on Ninja Tune in 2007, the best elements of dubstep and grime were on displayIn Loefah's remix of The Bug and Flowdan's, "Jah War," released on Ninja Tune in 2007, the best elements of dubstep and grime were on display in the forefront: low-end pressure subs, chest-cavity pounding kicks, skittering hi-hats, and of course, bars of pure fire maneuvering through it all from Flowdan. That essence of UK bass music seemed short-lived the years following. Brostep, the usurper of so many good things in dubstep, took off, techno invaded the hard-drives of the UK underground, and the fate of low-pressure, airless tracks looked bleak.

    Artists like Wen, however, would not go unnoticed, thanks to underground labels like Keysound. The resurgence of jungle- and dubstep-influenced producers like Logos, Parris, and Wen signals the new life found in the sound of dubstep originators. Tempa, Tectonic, and Keysound maintained the pressure, giving new artists space to innovate sounds and aesthetics that have not yet been exhausted.

    Tracks like Vampin', You Know, and Signal employ vocal snippets that tease out underground traditions into something totally new. Next-level production techniques and a clean sound provide plenty of interest for audiophiles and maintain plenty of space for the sub bass to establish the foundation and groove of each track.

    Galactic utilizes futuristic sound design techniques that call artists like M.E.S.H. or Logos to mind, while still maintaining hooks and melodies that keep the track grounded to urban themes. Lunar makes use of a garage/2-step beat syncopated nicely over low-end vibes, crystal clear bell-like sounds, and deep, soulful pads.

    A powerful statement on the power of the aesthetics established in the mid-2000s, Wen's, "Signals" sets a new standard for bass music and its producers.    … Full Review »