Kicking off a series of unmixed compilations where Mad Decent-affiliated DJs explore their favorite genres, Blow Your Head: Diplo Presents Dubstep finds the producer, DJ, and label boss picking some of the brightest and most speaker-ripping tracks from the wobbly genre. The
Benga cut and
James Blake’s remix of
Untold come from the genre’s darker side, where folks like
Burial practice their craft, but it's no surprise that the man behind the Technicolor dancehall crew known as
Major Lazer favors the work of
Rusko,
DZ, and other producers who work electro beats and sci-fi tones into the mix. With plenty of video game bleeps,
Zomby’s great “Strange Fruit” was a shoe-in for
Diplo’s set, as it suggests a new, supremely hip and totally meta genre: chipstep. Chances are the throwback beats of
Doctor P’s “Sweet Shop” appealed to
Diplo’s love of old-school rave, while
Jessica Mauboy’s “Burn” comes with a pop melody that’s vibrant, just the way the selector prefers. Fans of his live sets will wish this was mixed, but with a
Skream mix of
Major Lazer, a collaboration with
Borgore, plus a freaky
Lil Jon team-up you don’t want to miss, the
Diplo faithful should be well satisfied. ~ David Jeffries