BFFs
Chicago’s “hardest working motherfucker” is Chris Shively, according to British Magazine The Stool Pigeon. Under DJ/producer alias Chrissy Murderbot, he’s been killing dance floors since the 2000’s with original booty shaking beats. Incorporating elements of dubstep, jungle, house, and glitch-hop, his creates a unique sound and his latest 4 track EP, Friendship, is no different.
Blasting off into an echoing, glitchy chant and dubstep drumming, “Bionic Penguin” conjures the images of mechanic cyborg penguins on an arctic march against robot seals. The repeating high hat lends a hip-hop give while the synthesizer crescendo cut by low frequency drones gives the song great head-bobbability. Legowelt’s remix of the title track follows with another fast tempo instrumental riddled with bleeping electronica. When “Friendship” starts up, the differences between the former remix are immediately apparent. The title track offers a new flavor of high tempo ping-pong synth play, glitch half-time drumming, and wobbly low frequency sub drones. The fourth and final track, a remix of “Bionic Penguins” by SumSun, begins with an orchestra crescendo before parlaying into a wandering, IDM influenced moombahton beat.
The drum and bass influences are heavier here than on most dubstep records. Drum loops are often relentless, offering no breaks or interlude plateaus. Murderbot manages to give the overused 808 drums a new utility with his varying combination of styles and patterns while the use of glitched out vocals provide an interesting layer of attack/release. The beats found on Friendship EP are undeniably original and would be an asset to any DJ’s or beat freak’s collection.
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