One of the most-anticipated albums in the melodic bass genre this year was Dabin’s Wild Youth, and after months of teasing, it was released on the 22nd of March. Dabin earned a name for himself with his debut album, Two Hearts, back in 2016. He then released his two-track Pyres EP (part of Wild Youth too), which went viral. Ever since, Dabin has been one of the hottest names in melodic bass, with fans raving about his EDC LV 2018 set, in which he preview his two biggest hits from 2018 – Superstar with Said The Sky, and First Time with Seven Lions and Slander. Dabin started teasing the album early this year, and fans were incredibly excited by the news. Each of the three singles released in anticipation of the full body of work added a different feel to what the album would sound like, and from the reviews and responses we’ve noticed of the final body of work, it’s certainly lived up to expectations.

Albums have diminished in popularity in the house genres, simply due to the fact that each track from the album would be heard much less than it would be as a single release. However, it seems to me that the storytelling through melodic bass is much more evocative and cohesive, which means making an album that is a journey from start to finish is an appealing prospect to many artists still, even if not the most profitable one. sober rob and Jai Wolf have already dropped wonderful albums this year, Illenium has one forthcoming, and, of course, Dabin has dropped Wild Youth, which supports this argument.

This 10 track LP features 3 songs from old, 3 songs released in the run-up to the album release, and 4 brand new album-exclusive tunes. In each of the tracks, you can hear some very organic instruments, warm atmospheres, and at least one lead that oozes the Dabin sound. The guitar comes up often, and it’s no surprise that it’s a big part of his live shows too.

Here’s a track by track review of the album, roughly in order from my most favorite to least!

Rings & Roses w/ Conor Bryne – The second single off the album raised my already high expectations for this – because this song is future bass at its best. A soft guitar introduces the long vocal section, followed by one of the best drops I have heard in future bass in a long long time. Vaguely reminiscent of Dabin’s collaboration with Said The Sky called Superstar, for the prominence given to the guitar on the drop, Rings and Roses lets a nostalgic motif take control of the track in the drops, accompanied by blissful vocal chops. Everything about this track fits in so well together.

Home w/ Essenger – Another slow tempo track which incorporates the best from chillstep and melodic dubstep. A piano motif starts the song above organic percussion. Essenger’s voice lends a reminiscent tone to the tune, and quite unexpectedly (given the caliber of the more well-known featured artists on the album) one of the best vocal performances in Wild Youth. The chorus is so addicting that you’ll be singing along in no time. The drop is stacked with warm, buzzing supersaws, and takes a more electronic turn with the detune in the second part. Of course, these kind of drops sometime feel incomplete without vocal chops over them, so Dabin adds some in the second drop which are ever so slightly audible. This is the perfect blend of pure melody in the verses and the energy that comes from the markedly dubstep percussion and detuned saws in the drops.

Bloom w/ Dia Frampton – A chillstep track from Dabin with some exotic percussion and softly lingering vocal chops amid a backing guitar riff. Dia Frampton made her EDM debut in Illenium’s Awake album, following which she teamed up with Jason Ross for the melodic dubstep styled Don’t Give Up On Me. Here, she dominates the vocal sections perfectly, with a soothing, warm tone that is hard to mimic. The latter half of the song sees atmospheric pads and some guitar plucks occupy the forefront of the mix, something you won’t hear much in this genre. Some very soothing samples, such as flowing water, are added into the track to make it one perfect to listen to before you head to bed.

In Flames w/ Lexi Norton – Taken from his earlier Pyres EP, Dabin’s unique sound design as at full throttle. A fan favorite since it was released almost two years ago, In Flames has the soaring, slow-tempo supersaws which add that sense of grandeur and emotion to the track. I’ve probably heard this one at least fifty times since its release, and it only gets better each time. The drop features charming droplets of bell-styled leads, while the break includes a surreal melody through the use of vocal chops. One of the best songs on Dabin’s discography in terms of creativity and uniqueness.

Another Day w/ Inukshuk & Nevve – The third and final official single for the album was dropped only a couple of weeks before Wild Youth’s release. Dabin calls on Inukshuk for this one – Inukshuk is a producer who earned recognition first through his collaboration with Breathe Carolina in their Sleepless EP (their greatest body of work till date) called Nights. Meanwhile, Nevve has collaborated with a diverse body of EDM artists, from Illenium to DROELOE, and she adds to her stacked collaborator list with this tune. It’s an upbeat, beautiful bop with tropical leads and the Dabin sound clearly infused in the mix. Nevve’s vocals and the halftempo trap-infused rhythm make this song as wonderful as it sounds.

Altitude w/ Fytch – A slow melodic ballad with cozy lyrics. A simple guitar riff provides the backbone to this track, appearing in the verses, the chorus and the drops. The percussion in this one is much more melodic dubstep oriented, even if the feel gears towards chillstep. This was one of the highlights in melodic bass last year if you ask me, with its diverse collection of sounds. The fills in the drop provide a wonderful melodic dubstep feel to this calmer tune.

Part-Time Lover w/ Claire Ridgely – My favorite lyrics from this album come from singer Claire Ridgley, who has previously worked with the likes of Fairlane, Robotaki and more. Bitcrushed vocal chops rise and fall in the warmly backed drop, as Dabin boasts his mastery of vocal processing. Quirky sound design, like the xylophone-styled backing synth and some glittery square waveforms barely audible in the drop, is what makes Dabin’s sound so distinctive. One of the sing-along tunes on this album, this is one you can’t help but jam to.

Youth w/ Yoe Mase – Relying on vocal chops and surreal FX like bells and chimes in the drop to work its magic, Youth also features the brilliant voice of Yoe Mase. Better yet, the percussion is quite wet and rather exotic, which works well with the other-worldly feel of this tune. A soulful, motivational tune about obstacles in life, the somber yet happy mood in the drop is perfect for the song.

Alive w/ RUNN – The lead single from the album, and a whole six minutes long. RUNN is another vocalist who has been rising among our ranks, not the least for her incredible work on her Monstercat debut (which we covered here). One of the more relaxing and soothing tunes on the album. Maybe it’s just the fact that this was on repeat when it was released, but this has one of the best personal connections of all the tracks in the album. Maybe it’s just the beautiful lyrics. Maybe it’s just her voice. A delay before the first drop lets the cascading supersaws sound all the more vibrant and beautiful, exuding charisma in its every note.

Lights w/ Trove – Another tune from the Pyres EP, Lights showcases vocalist Trove at his finest. I’ve loved his voice for a while now, especially on his collaboration with Anki and his recent one with Fairlane. A soulful and majestic tune banking on Jai Wolf-styled sound design, Lights is another one you can play to lull yourself to sleep. The melody is very prominent on this one, as the lead synth in the drop packs a punch.

So, how does this LP tally up against his debut? The short answer? They’re different, but Wild Youth has the slight edge. Two Hearts was much more diverse, and it included genres from melodic dubstep to trap to chillstep. In fact, a couple of songs even had hints of his current style. But Wild Youth is much more cohesive, and showcases Dabin’s style more emphatically than Two Hearts.

While most albums choose to go with a more minimalist-styled artwork, this is an exception. A wolf is depicted scaring a young group of people in a natural environment, perhaps a rainforest. Given the overall feel of the lyrics in the album, you might interpret it as you will, but regardless, this is one of the more creative album artworks you’ll see in a while.

Dabin has just completed his Wild Youth tour, which was full of feels and live guitar, along with an insanely talented supporting crew, most notably featuring Trivecta. He’s set to perform with Said The Sky in a b2b under the moniker of Dab The Sky at Lost Lands 2019, which is something you cannot miss if you live nearby (and if you’re a basshead). We’re excited to see what the future holds for him!