“Calibre…what can I say??? As a recording artist/producer it’s easy to bounce around the word ‘artist’ – some people are students and practice an art form, whilst others perfect and become masters of their craft – to me Calibre unquestionably falls into the latter” - fitting words from none other than legendary artist Goldie.
Following on from the release of Dominck Martin aka Calibre’s debut LP Grow on Craig Richards’ The Nothing Special imprint, the prolific Irish drum & bass producer has a new release stripped of drum & bass. The album Grow, released at the end of last year, is an eclectic 70 or so minute journey ranging from newfangled dub, breakbeat, post-dubstep, future garage, jazz and house and it’s the latter that Dom has followed suit with on this occasion. Title track ‘Grow’ is an emotive, uplifting house track that features his own self-recorded vocals.
Calibre has always dabbled in other styles since his career began but recently we have seen an increase in more non drum & bass productions, in an interview last year he said, “I feel like its fine for a change and a widening of my horizons so expect more of this stuff.” Judging from these two recent releases on The Nothing Special the high level of production he is so well known for is most certainly retained, not to say we ever doubted the virtuoso.
Reading the description for the release of the EP you understand this is clearly a heartfelt release and one where the listener taps into his more sensitive side as a producer at a difficult time in his life when this was written over ten years ago. You may ask yourself, like I did, why this track is also the name of the album yet it doesn’t feature on the album and as the description of the release goes on to explain that it was, “partly because its ultimately positive veneer (even though it was written in the midst of two toxic relationships - one personal, one with the bottle) doesn't quite complement the deeper, more contemplative aesthetic of the album. But also because this is the start of a whole new story for Calibre…” Exciting times ahead!
4.2/5
Listen to the full EP
Buy: Vinyl / Digital
Words by Ben C