We never expected it to be this popular

In December of 2007, during the first Viral Radio Bash at 11, the industrial museum restaurant that turns into a club at night, it became clear that the architecture of the room fitted the acoustic quality of the ghost of jungle past we know as dubstep in a pleasantly natural manner. The sonic ecology of this monumental club space is mostly tested by the arsenal of minimal techno DJs like Laurent Garnier, Âme and Carl Craig; but not on these nights of sub frequencies and scattered rhythms.

Glaswegian Rustie made his debut in Amsterdam with a mash up of beats, bass and ‹soapy tits›. Photo: Derek Djons

If Rhythm & Sound paved the way for future dub music, methodically refining their echo sculptures, the hyperdub generation of Digital Mystikz, Pinch and Rustie have added their imagination to the artform. Much has been said about the ontology of dubstep - read the excellent trails of chroniquer Martin Clark (Blackdown) and the preambules by the professor of bass Steve Goodman (Kode9) - but nothing approaches the tactile experience of percussive bass and the hauntological effect of absent rhythms.

Last night brought together artists who have mastered the art of the delusional drum and the intuitive intelligence of infrasonic architecture. And what a night this was. With an astronomical number of 700 people the second Viral edition was sold out - an unforseen‹icing on the cake› . I would like to thank everyone who visited for supporting this special night of experimental dance music, the kind people of 11 for their hospitality and sense of adventure, and finally the artists for delivering such stellar performances - FS Green, Cinnaman, Rustie, RSD, Mala, Peverelist, 2562 and host Andrew Makkinga. (It was also wonderful to see Pinch (with his 10 man army from Bristol), Aardvarck, Radna, T-mus, Rosa, Derek Djons, Skeej, Bojcot and all the other artists and dubstep aficionados present again).

Tom Ford produces delicate dubstep under the moniker Peverelist. Photo: Derek Djons

Next up is a week of experimental bass music in May. Here are the dates and programmes:

Beat Dimensions invites Warp Records
Flying Lotus (Warp/Los Angeles) // Hudson Mohawke (Warp/Glasgow) // Cinnaman (Beat Dimensions/Amsterdam)
02.05.2008 // 00.15-late // Bimhuis

Sonic Warfare VII
Vex’d live (Planet Mu/London) // Appleblim (Skull Disco/Bristol) // Martyn (3024/Rotterdam) // Peverelist (Punch Drunk/Bristol) // U Dub (Viral Radio/Amsterdam) // Aardvarck (Rednose Distrikt/Amsterdam) // Forsaken (Punch Drunk/Bristol) // Wedge (H.E.N.C.H./Bristol) // Gatekeeper (Skull Disco/Bristol)
09.05.2008 // 23.00-05.00 // Melkweg

Beat Dimensions
Harmonic 313 // U Dub // Cinnaman
10.05.2008 // 00.00-05.00 // Flexbar

I hope to see you all at one these events.

Related posts:  A night of hyperbass and future beats in Amsterdam  //  Viral Beats - London, Bristol, Glasgow in Amsterdam  //  Audio Viral Radio Bash on 3voor12  //  Generation Bleep  //  Incoming signal detected  //

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