Calibre

Under the name Calibre, Dominick Martin has developed from Belfast, Northern Ireland, a body of work closely tied to the UK bass scenes since the late 1990s. Calibre first made his mark in drum & bass with a supple, melodic approach where broken rhythms converse with soul, dub, jazz and ambient textures — far from a purely frontal sound. Albums such as Musique Concrète (2001) and Second Sun (2005) already established this aesthetic: deep bass, spare arrangements and a restrained production style. Over the years Calibre has expanded into slower and more oblique formats, from downtempo to dubstep, with forays into house, techno and more vocal-led tracks. His activity is also sustained through Signature Recordings, a label associated with an abundant discography of albums, maxis and series like Shelflife. Calibre has collaborated with vocalists such as DRS, while keeping a DJ practice largely centred on his own material — rare versions, unreleased tracks and pieces where his singing appears only in discreet touches.