‘Common Ground’ is the debut album from skantia and it's a timeline of the producer's ascent following his exclusive signing to RAM Records in 2019. Already spearheading a takeover slot on BBC Radio 1 Dance Presents, as well as boasting a range of tastemaker support, ‘Common Ground’ further solidifies the foundations he has built over a short but explosive period of time. Representing RAM on the global stage during its 30 year anniversary, skantia has shown that he’s here to continually innovate and as he moves through his early twenties he has helped to change the game when it comes to production style. Something which is a resounding fact which features throughout ‘Common Ground’.
The album sees the return of singles such as ‘Providence’ alongside Newcastle native Nectax, as well as cuts such as ‘Tenebris’, ‘Dreams’ and ‘Esoteric’ too. Also on the LP are the likes of ‘What Do You Think’, with its grinding hooks, the mechanical processions of ‘Twenty 6ix’, crowded breaks of ‘Bolt Back’ and ‘Nominal Inc’ with wavelengths of subterranean bass. ‘Slasher’ features a whirlwind of intensity, meanwhile the thumping sounds of ‘Axis’ and skipping metallics of ‘Chatterbox’ continues the succession. ‘Relativity’ and its windfall of sonics ends the collection, a more solemn affair with soft snare patterns taking you out into its moodier depths. It's a package which intricately exposes the methodical world of skantia. A producer who, despite his young age, has shifted paradigms since his first output under the RAM imprint - diving into a range of influences and showing how much drum & bass impacted his formative years.
Surely to be one of many full-length albums, the Geordie boss has made one of his biggest impacts within the RAM catalog to date. With so much more to come from a producer only just beginning his path, it’s a monumental first masterpiece from the artist as he continues his journey over the coming years.
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