What is it about commercial dubstep compilations? Sure, I’m not the hugest dubset fan, but I’ve enjoyed many set from locals such as Jayar in Adelaide and Same0 in Melbourne, to international luminaries such as Benga, who delivered one of the performances of last year in my humble opinion. I’ve downloaded and grooved away to sets containing Lex’d, Digital Mystiks, and Skream before. And I really tried to enjoy this compilation of dubstep, but unfortunately I found that Tectonic Plates just isn’t overly likable. It’s too slow, plodding, minimal and repetitive to really get much enjoyment from.

I have to admit that the mix CD grew on me over time. I instantly disliked the slow pacing and the dull repetitiveness at first. After a few listens in the comfort of home on my loud system, I grew to like it a little more. However, the dull start of Cyrus’ Indian Stomp and slow pacing that follows it for over half the album is really hard to get into for someone who isn’t already the hugest dubstep fan. I think it’s the minimalistic approach to this compilation that really gets on my goat. It’s just too simple, too repetitive, and that makes it boring to me.

Individually, the tunes aren’t too bad, and as the disc comes in mixed and unmixed form, I guess the package isn’t a total waste. The real well known names deliver the best tracks – Loefah & Skream’s Fearless, Skream’s Bahl Fwd, and Vex’d Third Choice all being the stand out tunes. Armour’s Iron Man is pretty banging, and Nightmares by Hijak would be one of my favourites. There is some double up of tune across the two discs, but the unmixed CD gets a bigger “thumbs up” from me, but it’s still a very small thumb..

If you’re a debstep fan and into the really minimal side of the genre, then you’ll probably love Tectonic Plates, but if you’re new to the sound or just a casual listener, then there are much better sets available, and you’ll just have to hunt them down yourself, because I’m yet to find a commercial release outside of the big named artist albums that really takes my fancy.