na: tempa!

Along with Hyperdub and Tectonic, Tempa rounds out the top triumvirate of genre-defining, classic-dropping dubstep labels. We’ve gotten Tempa releases on eMusic before, but today we got an unholy glut of releases in — a few of which are as essential as anything the genre has produced to date.

If you have even the slightest interest in the dark, wobbly corners of the dubstep sound, I wholeheartedly encourage you to head over to the Tempa label page and just dig in. But in the interest of lending a helping hand, here are key places to start from the batch of just-in titles.

Skream, Midnight Request Line: Dubstep’s first crossover. Maybe not crossed-over-onto-pop-radio crossed over, but the perfectly cascading synths and stuttering syncopation of “Midnight Request Line” certainly made the fresh-faced Skream a household name among anyone who fancies a bleep in their step. An absolute must.

D1, Missin’/Cocaine/Firin’ Blanks: “Cocaine,” already featured in the great Dubstep All-stars series (Vol. 3), is probably the winner here. A moody throb with some soft-pad synth and a seriously deep sub-bass pulse.

Skream, Skreamizm Vol. 1: First of Skream’s ongoing EP series. Worth it for “Lightning” alone, which is maybe the most propulsive dubstep song I’ve heard. It fucking barrels — none of the aimless shifting around that plagues a lot of the more pedestrian chaff of the genre.

Coki, Tortured/Shattered: Head straight for the b-side. “Shattered” is complete paranoia — it’s got this mutant bug zapper flange waves that come in and out, just to scare you I guess. Total madness.

There’s also a recent Benga EP, three more Skreamizms and some solid Headhunter singles. Basicallllly, a gold mine. Don’t miss it!