Steppin’ Ahead

Steppin' Ahead is a new label specializing in dub-step that is launched by KK, the owner of hiphop/breakbeats label Lo-Vibes Recordings .
If you create dope tracks, please contact Steppin' Ahead anytime.
blog (Sorry, Japanese only)
http://steppinahead.blogspot.com/
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LO-VIBES/STEPPIN 'AHEAD Presents
'MO FUN -Vol.2-
2009.7.24 (Fri) @ nakano Heavysick Zero
OPEN 23:00- 　Cover 2,500yen
Live
Takaaaki, Tagoo, RHy-s
Kleptolambdoll (Kleptomaniac+Rie Lambdoll)
Candle+KK
Chew-Z
Drastik Adhesive Force
DJ
Doppelgenger
Kurara
Lounge DJs
Osam 'Green Giant', DJ Dopant, Birdy, Yumiko, Dubinch, acco
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Takaaaki, Tagoo, RHy-s / INLAND (STAD-005)
Yes, we guarantee: there’s nobody in the world who creates similar sound to those guys...The three young lions from Kansai kick open the door and enter the global Dubstep scene with explosive sounds in their hands!
The fourth release from Steppin’ Ahead is an album by a team composed of Takaaaki, Tagoo and RHy-s. They have been working mainly in Kasai area where they organize a well known party "Depth" and regulary perform at "dubstep rude".Through number of quality live performances and unique tracks, the three have been recognized in the Dubstep scene from early days. And now the full scale of their music will be finally known. The violent, aggressive and full-of-decadence sound will have enourmous impact bot only to Japanese Dubstep scene which often just follows what goes on in the UK, but also the global Dubstep world.
Takaaaki is a laid-back guy but what he produces are so eccentric and the sound has zero frippery. He will win worldwide recognition in the coming years.Track 01, 04, 07 are Dubstep songs that nobody but Takaaaki can create. The devastating sound of track 10 is something we can call abstract hip-hop in the 22nd Century and leaves heavy impact to the listeners. Tagoo’s sound is based on thick Dubstep base that produce tight and fat sound. In track 03 and 06, you can also find his unique sense of harmony. RHy-s does very special sound scape building which is different from anybody else. In track 05, the sound of piano produces dark and elegant beauty that colors up the album. The three young samurais made a spectacular album. You need to listen to it!
01.Takaaaki / Chillitote　02.Tagoo / Binary　03.Tagoo / Personal Time
04.Takaaaki / Wheel　05.RHy-s / Know　06.Tagoo / Sleep
07.Takaaaki / Kibune　08.RHy-s / Think So Sing Ring
09.RHy-s / Sing So Think Ring　10.Takaaaki / North
All Beats Produced & Mixed by Takaaaki, Tagoo & RHy-s (DEPTH)
Artwork by RHy-s
Mastered & Executive Produced by Khaosist
(P)+(C) 2009 Steppin’Ahead
Takaaaki
Sound creator from Mie prefecture and a resident artists at an occult party on every　last Tuesday at Club NOON in Umeda called Depth. He also frequently appears in Dubstep Rude, also at NOON. His music is characterized as heavy and aggressive. Takaaaki’s live　performance is abnormally hard although he uses a laptop computer and always leaves unforgettable imapct to those who see it.
http://www.myspace.com/taka2ki
Tagoo
A track maker who produces beats with a laptop computer and a sampler.When he performs　live Tagoo creates sound with a laptop, mixing Dubstep, Noise Music and Breakbeats and　adding his own interpretations. The reggae/dub like manipulation shows a different direction　from other artists that Tagoo is heading. He produces music constantly going inward on　his self. Tagoo appears at Dubstep Rude as a regular performer.
http://www.myspace.com/tagoo82
Rhy-s
Rhy-s used to perform as a drummer in a New York style hardcore punk band and nowhe produces music using various instruments including a rhythm machine, a sampler,　PC, an MTR, a guitar and a synthesizer. Although his music has an essence of Dubstep, Noise Music, Breakbeats, tribal music and contemporary music, he seeks his an original style and creates music not just for dancing but rather for the sake of music itself. He co-organizes Depth with DJ Cota, inviting various artists from all over the world.
http://www.myspace.com/entertharhys
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Chew-Z / Strange Fiction (STAD-003)
BIKEBOY has received high recognition among electronica fans and now he relaunches himself as Chew-Z with crazy dupstep beat!
The third release on Steppin' Ahead is a full-length album by Chew-Z.He has released works on underground electronica label Magic Book and Clay, but his talent fully flourished after coming across with dubstep. As he has been deeply into "music on dark side" such as King Crimson, Soft Machine, psychedelic and free jazz, his tracks are very unique and against norm. Being a mania of science fiction stories, his beats are mysterious but you sure can find sybaritic aspect of partying. It can be described as "insanity blasts silently." With this release, the audience will finally see the whole picture of this genius producer.
Track 1 immediately takes listeners to spacey world. Crazy geometric loops in Track 2 and 7 are nothing but dope. for Track 03 and 11Chew-Z has done really interesting spatial processing as if they soundin a closed chamber. Track 5 and 8 bring listeners to an unknown spaceof sound. The sound of Track 6 and 9 to which a Hip-Hop artist KK joined as a co-producer have phat sound. Track 10 is a highlight of this album; in the song turbulent sound of organ ascends higher and higher as if it reaches Miles Davis and SUN RA who are smiling in the heaven. Nothing is wasted here and you will see unique development ofdubstep in Japan.
01. Sleep 02. Vice 03. 2 Spaces
04. Magic Number 05. Taitan
06. Stoop Steppers 07. Tron
08. Taitan Version 09. Sky
10. The Sun Machine is Coming Down 11. Time
[Chew-Z Biography]
With influences by numerous kinds of music include abstract hip-hop,underground hip-hop, electronica, post rock, progressive rock, German techno, psyche and free jazz, he started to produce under the name "BIKEBOY". In 2005, he released his first album "A Fragmentary Passageof Life" on CLAY which won extremely good reaction with its unique sense of beauty. He then started to do collaborative works as well and joined compilation albums released on electronica/post rock labelssuch as Communedisc, Clay and Magicbook as "mills" which is a ambient post rock band. Currently he performs at parties such as scuba, BSN!, Nakameguro Dub. The artists he co-performed include Goth-Trad,L?K?O, DJ Ken One, DJ Quietstorm and Nomad. In 2009, he released an album titled "Strange Fiction" which fully features dubstep sound. At the same time, he changed his name to Chew-Z and made his second
debut.
Chew-Z myspace
http://www.myspace.com/bikeboybeats
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T2R / Steppers and Countrymen (STAD-002)
Here comes the 2nd release on Steppin' Ahead! We've got a long-awaited full-length album by T2R from Nara japan.He is already well know among Kansai Dubstep party scene. His tracks are played on FM radio station worldwide and he is recognized more in overseas than Japan. Having HipHop and Techno as musical base, he started to produce tracks in 2002. The firm and fat bass sound and rich rhythm programming attract fans all over the world. Dark but somehow pop taste and subtle sense of "Japanese" make the tracks quite unique. In 2008, he joined a HipHop producer KK's album "In the Khaos 69" that integrated Dubstep and Grime with Hip Hop.The album opens up with a song features a No. 1 Grime MC in Poland FS Dan, followed by three fat instrumental tracks. Song 5 is a pure techno tune, a dope 8 was done in collaboration with a Kansai heavyweight DJ Tuttle. 9 which is the highlight of the album is a danceable heavy Dubstep number. Song 11 is a dark jazzy tune which reminds 70's Miles Davis and it finishes with mellow and looming 12. It is not a just bass booming Dubstep but really colorful and you canenjoy in so many different ways.
[T2R biography]
T2R is a heavy weight in Kansai Dubstep scene. Having HipHop and Techno as musical base, he started to produce tracks in 2002. His tracks are played on FM radio station worldwide and he is recognized more in overseas than Japan. The firm and fat bass sound and rich rhythm programming attract fans all over the world. Organic percussion which regularly used in his songs and oriental melodies remind listeners temples in Nara where he was born. T2R himself actually was greatly influenced by mentality of budhism and religion; thus his sound is filled with mercy and healing downbeat. In Kansai, he made joint appearnces with UK's leading artists such as N-Type, Appleblim as well as Mary Ann Hobbs. He is a regular member of "Dubstep Rude" and has made several appearances in Back to Chill which is held in Tokyo. In 2007, he released "6 TUNES DUB" then he joined Lo-Vibes Recordings owner KK's album "In the Khaos '69" in 2008.
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OQTO / Bass, Space & Beatz (STAD-001)
Being a DJ for long time, then I can see who they are clearly through their music. When I listened to his music fist time, I felt his magnificent imagination, the courageous adventured mind and the consistent belief strongly for the musical part as a hobby. I can tell that he is one of 'artist'.
DJ INZA (SOI)
Crashed into his music on myspace and I begged&paid to get the CDR. The individually spacy world view and the high skill programing ability, especially the drum sounds getting confusion that is wicked. I'm so jealous. He deserves to be pushed out.
KK (Lo-Vibes Recordings)
All I can say about the album is that it's very good,
bit unusual from all the other stuff out there.
Lots of different flavours, quite dark and experimental.
People should really get their hands on this.
FURIOUZ (SUB FM UK)
Had an intuition the sulky taste of UK Grime, witnessed just about the folks around LOW END THEORY in LA were making the crazy LOW&END heavy bass that I got into the feeling electrified to my guts and skin that's been for long.
I've felt surely that the beat has activated and been connecting in the world based on Dubstep that OQTO's beat is definitely one of that, means not random, it's solidly a strike.
Masaaki Hara (corde inc.)
Dubstep was born in Europe but it is now a global phenomena. And
finally we launch the first Japanese label focusing on Dubstep. We
call it Steppin' Ahead. The first release from Steppin' Ahead is a
full-lnegth by a Kanagawa-based artist OQTO. OQTO empathize a lot with
space and his sound is just like that. The album is filled organic
synth sounds, warm and robust beats, brilliant sense of harmony and a
cheerful feeling with a flavor of party which is like a natural
aspiration for OQTO who has been around Japanese club scene for a long
time. You will be surprised to find that the album has both
flamboyance and deepness at the same time.
The album opens up with "Attack of Killer Peace" that features a Drum
'n Bass MC D2. The next song "Journey to the Shwedagon" has a full of
heavy bass that trances listeners. The third song is "Breezed". This
dubby tune was played at Mary Anne Hobbs' radio show. In the middle of
the album there are a lof of varieties from mellow songs comical
songs. These songs show OQTO's rich talent and his superb technique of
dram programming. Song 10, 11 and 12 are the highlight of the
album. The three songs that well express OQTO's "party spirit" are
always played at live shows and brought huge excitements among the
audience. The album conclude with "Reflect Bass," a song with a
colorful sound of synthesizer. From the beginning to the end, the
album is created upon OQTO's unique taste of sound construction and a
flavor of party. This is a classic and it is no doubt that OQTO will
be one of the key figures in Japanese Dubstep scene.