The first notable release from the past week is a massive two-hour VA on Comic Sans Records, an imprint returning in full force after a prolonged hiatus. Curated by the elusive label head and Lyon bass key figure Sleek Fata, Vision Pro Dubs introduces 20 artists, mostly hailing from France, united by a forward-thinking approach to dub-infused, low-end-oriented music. Cutting-edge sound design merges seamlessly with OG dub sirens and spring reverbs. As expected, the compilation covers all tempos and intensities, spanning harmoniously from ambient to half-time 160 rollers. 140 heads will want to start with Sabla’s deeply unsettling Vibrations (resonance mix), before moving to Sòn du maquís's rooted skanker and Stacktrace’s dark stepper. Once warmed up, things get serious with Gillielove’s stripped-down, sluggish infra-bass exploration, and the vibe culminates with Warzou’s Comic Dub Serif—a minimal, snare-on-the-three cut ambiguously situated in the liminal space between dub and dubstep, shadow and light. The full compilation is a wonderful celebration of the intersection between dub-infused bass music and psychedelic rave sounds.

Another French-led compilation has been unleashed by Durum Records and gathers the vanguard of the new wave of bass music. Featuring local heroes such as the rising duo Cwtch, the discreet sound sculptor RM Estali, and steppers heavyweight Marino2, the VA is first and foremost a demonstration that the 'psychedelic low-end' scene—mostly flourishing in France—is currently the leading source of innovation in dubstep. More notably, the VA bridges the gap with another thriving scene on the opposite side of the globe, welcoming Aotearoa-based dubstep powerhouse Ayaluna for a minimal, dark roller. The title of the project, Endless Rolling, announces the musical philosophy uniting all these contributions: favoring rolling  half-step structures over traditional drops to progressively build pressure and percussive grooves. Each artist then deploys this concept in various directions, contributing to an arsenal of tracks that can fit both strict 140 nights and deep, genre-agnostic raves in the woods.

For its seventh EP, Size Ten invites contactghost, confirming the impeccable quality of the imprint's curation. The UK-based fast-rising producer builds on the trajectory of the label's previous releases, delivering three meditative and minimalist cuts that elegantly revisiting the blueprint of dub techno-leaning 140: shuffling hats, echo-drenched atmospheric pads, and a massive amount of space in the mid-range. The opening track strictly sticks to this formula, while the second cut introduces uncharted, subaquatic sweeping elements. Fittingly, the final track, Today’s Today, ends the project by fusing both aspects, reaching maximal ethereal heights without sacrificing infrasonic pressure.

Last but not least, we highlight Kami-O's latest project, a self-released two-tracker focused entirely on 4x4 140. Building on recent innovations from artists like Mia Koden, Kami-O delivers his own take on this powerful fusion of techno, steppers dub, and darker dubstep aesthetics. The opening track is driven by a fast-oscillating infrasonic pulse that heavily pressurizes the room, keeping the mid-range completely scooped out to grant full impact to surgical, stripped-back percussive elements. It is a lethal weapon that has likely already secured a special place in the USBs of 4x4 dubstep spearheads. The B-side track brings a more nostalgic vibe, where a hypnotic, old-school melody commands attention alongside dreamy pads engineered for deep meditation.