(Dubstep, Drum & Bass) Magnetic Man - Magnetic Man (Deluxe Edition) (Columbia [88697786402]) - 2010, MP3 (tracks), 320 kbps

Three heavyweights of the dubstep scene - Scream, Benga and Artwork - team up for this debut album. Hybridizing the crushing bass pressure of dubstep with surprisingly accessible pop-RnB song structures, and featuring a number of guest vocalists including Ms. Dynamite and John Legend, this promises to be a crossover smash. Includes the singles 'I Need Air' and 'Perfect Stranger' and, in this special edition, a bonus disc featuring five additional tracks.
Magnetic Man is the collective trio of dubstep dons Skream, Benga and Artwork. Having spent the early part of the decade co-building what is now known as dubstep from their HQ, Big Apple records in Croydon, a genre of music that has taken hold of youth culture in britain, a trail of incendiary live performances across the UK and Europe – from the Roskilde Festival in Denmark and Melt festival in Germany to London club Fabric and this year's Glastonbury - have left festival goers and clubbers transfixed over the past year.
Now, 2010 looks set to be their year. The first taste the world got was 'Mad' - a track that Skream posted on his Twitter account - with its brooding synths and heavy bass lines. Then there's debut single 'I Need Air' which takes the dark, foreboding beat of dubstep and turns it into an edgy pop gem, complete with vocals from Angela Hunte, better known for co-writing the Alicia Keys track 'Empire State Of Mind.'
The influence of Big Apple still looms large in what the band do, as 'Karma Crazy' will testify, along with the likes of 'The Bug' with it's distorted, twisted vocals courtesy of Sam Frank and 'K Dance' with its skittering, hypnotic beat. 'Boiling Water' meanwhile sees the trio bring the essence of early jungle to a new generation whilst 'Perfect Stranger' is an instant summer anthem-in-the-waiting and one that looks set to propel Magnetic Man to the forefront of modern UK pop music. Finally, there's 'Getting Nowhere' which features John Legend on vocals and which sees Magnetic Man deliver a powerful, soulful and introspective tune – perfect for the post-club comedown.