Terror Danjah / Gremlinz (the Instrumentals 2003-2009)

Planet Mu

Terror Danjah isn't a household name--he's not as well-known as Wiley or Dizzee Rascal--but he's considered by the grime cognoscenti to be the best grime producer ever, and this new collection of instrumentals, remixes, and tracks for others shows off his singular genius to the rest of the world. The title of the album refers to his gremlin cackle audio-logo that indicates a Terror Danjah production, much like Timbaland's singing / beat boxing on his early productions. And the comparison with Timbaland doesn't stop there: both producers work with a signature palette of sounds, adding to them occasionally, which make their productions instantly recognizable; both use shifting, syncopated rhythms. What sets Terror Danjah apart is that he's British, he works around the tempo of 140 bpm, and his music is part of the aggressive, post-garage grime movement. Despite the pared-down palette he uses, Terror fills his productions with brilliant ideas, complex rhythms, and pop hooks. He has worked with both MCs and vocalists from Nasty Crew, Skepta, and Wiley to Shystie, Shola Ama, and now Mz Bratt. These tracks were mostly issued in limited vinyl quantities on the Aftershock label, as either instrumental tracks or as backing for MCs and singers. If one wants to hear a precursor to Joker and the new Bristol producers, here it is.

• SHARE

  •  Twitter
  •  Stumbleupon
  •  Digg
  •  del.icio.us
  •  Facebook
  •  Mixx