Dublab 002 by Various – A Chaotic Love Letter to Electronic Beats
Alright, buckle up. If you're looking for some cookie-cutter review that kisses the artist's ass, you’re in the wrong place. Dublab 002 isn’t here to hold your hand—it smacks you across the face and drags you into a sweaty club where nobody cares if you survive till sunrise. Released in 2016 via The Dub label outta Italy, this thing is an absolute beast of a compilation. It’s got disco vibes, ghetto house grit, deep house soul, and just straight-up house thumpers. Let’s dive in.
First off, let me tell you about “Not Tonight.” Holy crap, this track? It slaps harder than your ex who ghosted you after three years. The bassline is so dirty it should come with a health warning. Every time I hear those synths kick in, it feels like someone flipped a switch inside my brain—like, okay, no more thinking, only moving. You can't sit still with this one. Your body will betray you; don’t fight it. This is the kind of song that makes people at parties lose their damn minds. No lie.
Then there’s “Papa’s Got A Brand New PigBag” (yes, what a name). This tune hits different. Like, imagine walking into a basement rave in '93 while everyone's wearing neon leg warmers and doing questionable things with glow sticks. That’s this track. The groove is infectious as hell, but it also has this weird-ass vibe going on—like it knows it’s cooler than you. And honestly? It probably is. There’s something raw and unpolished about it that screams authenticity. It doesn’t try too hard, which ironically makes it stand out even more. Respect.
Now, look, not every track on Dublab 002 is gonna blow your socks off immediately. Some tracks are chill, some are wild, but they all share this gritty underground energy that keeps pulling you back in. It’s messy, unpredictable, and kinda brilliant because of it.
Here’s the kicker though: listening to this album feels like overhearing a secret conversation between DJs who know something you don’t. Maybe that’s why it stuck with me. Or maybe it’s just because “Not Tonight” refuses to leave my headspace. Either way, this record ain’t perfect—but man, does it make you feel alive.
Oh, and fun fact: apparently pigs can’t sweat. So how’d Papa get his new pig bag? Food for thought.
