Tectonic Plates, Vol. 1

One of the best documents of the early dubstep scene, Tectonic Plates, Vol. 1 is a collection curated by Tectonic label head Rob Ellis (a.k.a. Pinch). It features some prime examples of the dark, heavy style that was prevalent in the UK at the time — before the flashy, brassy brosteppers got ahold of dubstep and made it a mainstay of beer- and acid-soaked raves. On this compilation you’ll hear classic sides by the likes of Distance (“Temptation”), Digital Mystikz (“Molten”) and, of course, Skream (“Bahl Fwd”), as well as tracks from several artists who didn’t make it quite as big. All of it is worth hearing, though.