Aaron Jerome, better known by his stage name SBTRKT (pronounced “subtract”), thrives on mystery. In addition to the pseudonym that masks his identity, Jerome performs live wearing a mask modeled on heavy tribal influences, a part of his stage persona that is featured prominently on the cover of his self-titled debut, released on June 28.
It should come as little surprise then that “SBTRKT” is marked by its dark and mysterious vibe. Doubtless its dubstep background inspires moments that are danceable and rife with pop immediacy, as on “Wildfire,” but more often than not, this is an album that ventures into introspection and the emerging genre of post-dubstep.
That introspection focus heavily on hindsight, as Jerome recalls and reflects on his past, in particular his relationships. “Something Goes Right,” for example, bears a title that might suggest a cheerier tone, but listeners will instead hear the artist as he hopes and laments. “I keep on having these conversations / and these bitter thoughts keep on escaping / I wish they were staying, and something would go right,” he sings over an insistent bass line and subdued keyboards. In those lines, Jerome shares his regrets of saying too much and sharing his thoughts too candidly. It’s appropriate, if somewhat ironic, then, just how personal and earnest this album is.
Those attributes of its lyrics combine with its overall sparse sound to bring “SBTRKT” right alongside other post-dubstep releases, including the self-titled debuts of The xx in 2009 and of James Blake earlier this year. Each carries the signifiers of dubstep work, in particular their commanding bass lines, but each also strips the genre down to its most minimalist form, producing tracks that leave listeners plenty of breathing room.
Of those three releases, though, “SBTRKT” likely maintains the most mainstream appeal, as it repeatedly jumps between introspection in the style of James Blake (“Hold On,” “Trials of the Past”) and the dance tendency that otherwise permeates dubstep (“Wildfire,” “Pharaohs”).
The result is a highly dynamic and ultimately inconsistent album: It can be energetic or subdued, dense or sparse, powerful or forgettable. As a result, “SBTRKT” feels like more of a collection of ideas and concepts than a truly cohesive work. Certainly, SBTRKT is an artist worth watching, as his career is only now beginning to take off, and because Jerome has the potential to produce a more fully fleshed-out album that could carry a great of deal of weight. In the fullness of time, “SBTRKT” will likely serve as Jerome’s introduction to the dubstep and electronica scene, not his greatest contribution to it.