Stream: The Bug, ‘Void’ and ‘Function’

Andrew Veeder on August 21st, 2014

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U.K. artist Kevin Martin has been involved in a multitude of projects over the last 2 1/2 decades, including GOD, Ice, and King Midas Sound. Under the moniker The Bug, he has released three albums that fuse dancehall, grime and hip-hop into a dubstep-reggae sound. Now based in Berlin, he is set to release his fourth album, “Angels & Devils.” Each half of the album will focus on one of these two themes, creating a “battle between utopian and dystopian, exploring the fringes and the negative space between the two,” a sort of “soundtrack for end times,” as the label is touting it. Album opener “Void” leans more toward the former, with angelic and ethereal vocals-without-words from Liz Harris of Grouper lofting above some airy and moody production. On the flip side, “Function” roars with menacing buzz saw synth and ragga bass beats, as rapper Manga of the U.K. crew Roll Deep attacks the track with a fast-paced, grimy flow. The album also features contributions from Copeland, Death Grips, Gonjasufi, and Warrior Queen, and is due out next week via Ninja Tune.

||| Stream: “Void” and “Function”