A few days ago, Zomby wrote on his Twitter, "you call it 'Dubstep' because your frame of musical reference started when your wi-fi connection was installed," which, aside from giving off don't shit where you eat vibes, brings up an interesting question: What do you call it? What Babe Rainbow aka Vancouver-based producer Cameron Reed would like his music to be called is the hybrid "surf-step," seemingly to imply his inherent connection to both the worlds of laid back lo-fi beach rock and hyper-enthused dubstep. This is an ambitious outline to sketch for a young artist, as though he opted not to take the road less taken, but to check each out and see about paving a bisecting lane. What we can say assuredly about Babe Rainbow's music, specifically "Screwby," is that it is undoubtedly a member of the Warp family. Playful and fascinated with all forms of programming—keys, bass and drums—Babe Rainbow shares most Warp group's experimental interest in boundary bending and nose poking. The reason for "surf-step" isn't a need to check off characteristics from a laundry list, it's getting everything done and realizing you sashayed your way smoothly through idea after idea, not just surf or dubstep, but dub itself, math rock, video game music and more. So to answer Zomby's question, maybe you call it electronic music—anything else might be a little reductive. Babe Rainbow's debut EP on Warp, Shaved is out soon, info about the EP and preorder are here, and check out the Al Baik-directed slow-motion firework meltdown of "Screwby"'s video above.
Download: Babe Rainbow, "Screwby"
