Podcast 97: Brackles

• Words: Shawn Reynaldo

Something interesting is brewing on the fringes of dubstep, and 24-year-old Rob Kemp, better known as Brackles, is right in the thick of it. The London-based DJ has been spinning garage records and wowing crowds with his insane turntable skills since he was 15 years old, but it's his next-level production work that has truly thrust him into the limelight. Singles on Planet Mu, Applepips, Berkane Sol, and Pollen, not to mention high-profile remixes for the likes of Kid Cudi vs. Crookers, Tempa T, and MSTRKRFT, have showcased Brackles' love for skittery, leftfield garage and his ability to make refined dancefloor tunes—you certainly won't find him resorting to cliché bass overloads that have all the subtlety of a chainsaw to the head. Between making music, DJing regularly at places like FWD, and running the Blunted Robots label with partner-in-crime Shortstuff, Brackles isn't exactly long on free time, but we somehow convinced him to put together this exclusive mix for XLR8R. Full of unreleased gems and a few underground classics, the results are absolutely thrilling.

01 One Tribe feat Gem & MC Nuts "What Have You Done" (Red Rose Recordings)
02 Greena "Tenzado" (Applepips)
03 Shortstuff "See Ya" (unreleased)
04 Martin Kemp "Aztec" (unreleased)
05 Brackles & Shortstuff "Pipey D" (unreleased)
06 Aardvarck "Nosestep" (RH)
07 Joy Orbison "GR Etiquette" (unreleased)
08 Alley Cats "Cover Me" (Locked On)
09 TLC "No Scrubs (Todd Edwards Remix)" (I Records)
10 Jamie Lidell "Another Day (Rustie Remix)" (Warp)
11 Wiley "Freeze" (white)
12 Untold "It’s Gonna Work Out Fine" (unreleased)
13 Mark One "The Greatest" (Boka)
14 Geiom & Spamchop "Cave Rave" (Berkane Sol)
15 Brackles "Rawkus" (Planet Mu)
16 D1 "Crack Bong" (Tempa)
17 SBTRKT "Loving You" (Planet Mu)