The Herbaliser’s newest album is appropriately titled Same As It
Never Was. Upon a cursory listen, the album sounds like it could
have easily been released in the mid-to-late ’90s, when Ninja
Tune was king and jazz/funk sample-based downtempo wasn’t yet made
yawnworthy by a crushing flood of “chill out” comps. Back then,
the Herbaliser was ahead of the curve, particularly adept at choosing
MC collaborators (they were working with Jean Grae before she
was using the name).
But the new album isn’t just some ’90s act doing the same shit,
different decade. It is the fruit of a long progression toward more
live instrumentation. Rather than relying on their jazz/funk record
collections, the Herbaliser started touring with live players, sampling
their output for recordings, and have now made the full leap by
inviting their longtime tour partners officially into the group. The
resulting album is loose and funky as hell. This year has had no
shortage of great summer albums, and this is another to add to that
list—Nectar’s patio will be a great spot to hear these tracks
when the Herbaliser come into town for a DJ set.
Another guest from across the pond, Skream, is also making
his first Seattle appearance this week, Wednesday night at Nectar. Yet
another member of the UK dubstep Dream Team, Skream is an alum of
the infamous Big Apple Records, one of the first spots to
support the sound. That head start on the rest of the world placed him
in prime position to be a pioneer of the form, but considering the
rumored thousand(!) tracks he’s got in various forms of completeness,
it seems he would have ended up in that position regardless. Between
his prolific nature and his busy remix schedule, expect to hear plenty
of new material, and at proper chest-crushing volume, since
Nectar can get away with it.
With fewer miles to travel, Trashy Trash is breaking out of its
usual confines to take over this week’s edition of Bonkers! at Re-bar.
If heading out to Ballard on a Sunday hasn’t appealed to you, this is
your chance to get a taste of how the Trashy Trash crew is keeping
Ballard weird (and lowbrow) through the mystical powers of bass.
Between Mad Max, Same DNA, and Introcut‘s deep
crates and Claude Balzac‘s electro, it’ll be worth taking
advantage of this chance to spend that gas money at the bar. 
The Herbaliser play Sun Aug 3, Nectar, 9 pm–2 am, $10,
21+.
Skream plays Wed Aug 6, Nectar, 9 pm–2 am, $10,
21+.
Trashy Trash takes on Bonkers! Thurs July 31, Re-bar, 10
pm–2 am, $5, 21+.