Dallas (and Houston, actually) had a strong rave scene back in the day, but it’s surprising to hear of a sound as introspective and (dare I say it) un-American as dubstep comin’ straight out of a town most people still associate with rich hicks high on oil money. Yet this fusion of ragga, two-step garage and dub has won enough converts down here that Mundo can have his own music, label, and club night, so something good must be going on. This double-A sider is pretty ample proof of the why, if not the how. “Still Stand Rasta” is a disorientating journey through a cauldron of bubbles, bouncing and careening off each other to the tempo of a skittering flanged-out beat. The flip, “Hear Dis,” is just as tactile but a bit less engaging—a drawn-out and manipulated skank played against a bit of bwoyish nonsense. The most interesting thing going on is the space between the elements, but it’s not enough to drive the tune out of neutral.

Dub Assembly / DA 001EP
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[Mallory O’Donnell]