Back with his fourth single in as many months, Dunstable DnB producer
Protostar has a hit on his hands with "
Overdrive." With two versions, including an instrumental and a vocal cut featuring "
Where I Belong" collaborator
Emma McGann, "
Overdrive" takes me back to one of my favourite times and sound periods: the early 2010s, particularly
Nero's
Welcome Reality. More than just the powerful female vocals of McGann and Alana Watson, I'm reminded of this era's brilliance through the futuristic soundscape, similarly punchy percussion and buoyant, striding synths. Of course
Nero are more widely associated with dubstep, but it's nearly impossible to separate it from DnB and the two are often paired perfectly. Here with "
Overdrive," the imagery
Protostar creates is both bright and dark in the same sound, like a mix of neo-noir and sci-fi films (think
Blade Runner 2049 and
Tron: Legacy). It is punchy and propulsive, yet is not at all overwrought or over-the-top. A good headbanger, easily enjoyed with or without its expertly treated vocals, "
Overdrive" is a welcome addition to 2020, a year in which DnB continues its assault on the collective consciousness. Add it to your catalog via
Monstercat,
here.
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