does
Kahn fit into this thread at all?
Since the rise of wobble i've pretty much steered well clear of dubstep, but recently i keep hearing this guy around the net.
I'm not quite sure what to think about him yet. Part of me really loves his tunes, his ethos even - the musical references, the snappy beats, the homage to older scenes, and even the funky vocal chopping, though it gets gimmicky quite quickly. It reminds me of what i was into while i was growing up and grime and dubstep were kicking off in a big way. It feels enthused with the spirit of past glories.
But then part of me thinks that its too earnest, academic even. That Kahn is carving a role for himself as some kind of musical historian, re-living the last couple of decades through his current output. Its revivalist tone is what jars with me. There's no joy of discovery because we've been here before.
When the dubstep/grime scenes were evolving, the was an energy and unpredictability which maintained the excitement and sense of exploration. New characters, new sounds, living and developing with and within a community. Authenticity and vitality shone through in the attempts to define and capture new musical territories.
I like a lot of his tunes, but to me Kahn is like the student who rigidly copies his master. Appreciated for his skill, but not really remembered on his own terms.
Even if you consider the Bristol aspect in isolation, nothing i've heard from young echo comes even close to the shock, and sense of wonder the first time i heard qawwali. That was inspired, and the idea of revisiting that period of musical fertility must seem so appealing to a diehard fanboy like kahn, but his tracks fall so much flatter. Maybe i'm just being jaded here, maybe if i was 16 again it would all sound incredible, but i remain unconvinced.
I'd hope that given time his own sound might evolve, but despite his clear talent i dont think that's a certainty.
Is this broadly where futuregarage/intelli2step or whatever people are calling this revivalist sound is at? Or should i be listening to someone else? Who's pushing things fwd>>>>>>?