EP Review: Flex - Pool

artist: Pool title: Flex album: Flex EP label: 2DIY4 cat #: 2DIY4_07 release date: 04/02/13 recorded: David August song mastered by: Hans-Philipp Graf video by: D É J À V Ü video cast: Valentina H., Franziska R., Laura Z. video hair & make up: Aglaja Brix special thanks to: Marc, G.

When I reviewed their debut release Pool they were singing about videogames and I was pointing out their similarity to Alphabetical-era Pheonix. The subject matter may have moved on but the musical approach remains very familiar on this follow up release.

View fullsize

Flex - Pool

'Flex' is full of the tight guitar work and polished melodies that back a functional and bookish vocal. The slightly loose percussion and guitar riffs flecked with funk give this an infectious disco edge but it lacks just a little sophistication and emotion.

The dance floor sass of 'Flex' is countered by the more wistful 'Botox', with its chirpy verses and layered chorus. It feels a little deeper than the title track but in comparison to Pheonix's work, which often features obtuse lyrics that somehow still carry an emotional weight, this feels a little impenetrable. As a result the music is enjoyable but feels a little disposable.

Two remixes feature on this release in support of the originals. Stimming makes a return from the band's debut EP and offers 'Botox' up in the form of a deeper dub, full of dark grooves.

Aeroplane's remix of 'Flex' is the highlight of the EP and the best mix from (Aeroplane alter-ego, now it's a solo act) Vito de Luca I've heard in some time. It's a full 50 BPM slower than the original and adds some deep cosmic disco finesse to the original. The revision suits the vocals, creating a passionate track that more fully communicates the rhythm and desire it sounds like Pool were going for.

Flex is released on 18 February through 2DIY4.

EP Review: Driving Me Wild - Kahwe

View fullsize

Driving Me Wild EP - Kahwe

Driving Me Wild has moments that recalls the feeling when you walk into a club, building from snatches of noise and a quiet bass track. The big house piano that rides in late on into the first minute of 'Anything' captures that sense of rounding the corner and meeting the dance floor. Those keys drop, the room is in reckless abandon and everything changes.

Kahwe is 20 year-old Joe Cowie but this release would probably have you believe he has significantly more years in his record box than he does. Cowie's production work is based primarily around garage and 90s house but he manages to bring those two genres together without the spirit of either conflicting with the other, and at its best, the EP captures the very feeling of clubbing.

'Driving Me Wild' is a deep, a tightly focused house track with elements of soul in the vocal. The slick electronic bass seemingly bends round corners, creating a surprisingly melodic feel that provides a bedrock for the warm pads Kahwe throws at this track.

Despite a few retro touches the music on this EP comes off feeling surprisingly modern - the skittering beats and rap samples on 'Anything' adapted to suit the empty-pipe echoing bass noise. It's both respectful of the past and unafraid to experiment.

Final track 'Yew' is much more laid back. Whilst it retains a relatively uptempo rhythm the fuzzy sounds and blissful break create a very different atmosphere to round the EP off.

Driving Me Wild is released through Anjunadeep on 11 February, available to buy from Beatport here. Preview the EP below:

EP Review: Sensoramic - Laura Jones

Believe it or not Sensoramic is Laura Jones debut solo EP release. It says a lot about the impact of her work that I struggle so much to get my head around that fact, but she has actually only featured on other artists releases, split releases and compilation EPs. She has had several notable tracks since her 2011 break but none quite matches 'Love In Me' in terms of appeal and acclaim, having held the number spot on Beatport for several weeks.

View fullsize

Sensoramic - Laura Jones

The influence of the artists Jones has collaborated with and the labels involve (both Visionquest, whom this release is from, and Jones' other regular label Crosstown Rebels) is fairly clear. Sensoramic is more minimal in approach. Where 'Love In Me' relied on a nod to 90s Euro-house for it's appeal this release is much more unashamedly contemporary.

The maturity works. Opening with 'Let Me In', Laura creates a moody, distant track full of hushed desperation. A deep bass shuffles beneath the track whilst cool xylophone-esque chimes play out an accompany to widescreen synths. The EP also includes a dub version of 'Let Me In' built around that bass line and layered cuts of Jones' vocal, creating something a little deeper for the dance floor.

Next track 'Loose Myself' is claustrophobic, elastic bass effects and rigid drum patterns creating a dark atmosphere that Jones is unafraid to keep maintain at a slow and precise pace. The track gradually builds to a bouncy bass line that does nothing to lighten the mood, delivering an epic and introspective conclusion.

Final track 'Every Thought' continues the introspective theme, creating a melodic collage of delayed synths, gradually decaying keys and plenty of filters and effects.

The EP is at its finest when opened up to the loose chime playing and contrasting depth of 'Let Me In' but the whole release grows the producer's sound convincingly.

Sensoramic is released through Visionquest on 4 February.

EP Review: Rosalind EP - Leon Vynehall

The Rosalind EP represents Leon Vynehall's sophomore release for label Well Rounded Housing Project and his third overall, with second release Gold Language coming out on Man Make Music following the his debut release, Mauve, last year.

This EP consists of two upbeat tracks followed by the title track, which closes the release out in a more laid back fashion. Vynehall focuses on a techie, robotic vision of house music. Opening track 'Untitled 017’ contains plenty of layered vocal snippets and an elastic bass, which combine with the treble-heavy percussion to give things an open, live-feeling sound.

Vynehall calls to mind early Layo & Bushwacka! and Emperor Machine in his distorted but sincere take on house. 'Title #7' throws in hi-hats-aplenty and rolling bongos to forge an atmospheric banking for a slowed-down and stretched-out classic house piano refrain.

Finally 'Rosalind' closes things with a suitably dreamy, soulful looped sample. The thick, looping melodies and sharp drum beat sound like Chill-wave produced by a Hip-Hop producer. It's a doe-eyed love letter that brings a relaxed but touching close to the EP.

The Rosalind EP is released on 5 February though Well Rounded Housing Project, preview below via Soundcloud:

EP Review: Bridge So Far - Benoit & Sergio

I've given a fair amount of space to Benoit & Sergio over the past year or so and that's because their EP releases have consistently been some of my favourites over that time. Following releases on thesongsays, DFA, Visionquest and Spectral Sound this new EP sees them arrive on the Hot Creations label.

As always Benoit & Sergio don't do anything massively differently from a number of other electronic producers - they just do it with more soul, and they do it better.

The a-side is built around a heavy, robotic bass line - and it's ever-so-slightly Daft Punk in sound. The track has Benoit & Sergio's trademark bruised falsetto vocals though, and they grant 'Bridge So Far' a soulful edge to the harder disco sound. It is mainly about that bass line however - it's both instantaneously catchy and cool.

Over on side-b is the funkier '$100 Bill', and it's full of twisted vocodered vocals and trebly hand-claps & drum-slaps. It also features a wonky, insatiable bass line - think a slick, alien, machine generated take on 'Billie Jean'. This is another side to Benoit & Sergio, more overtly dance-friendly than they are usually, but it demonstrates exactly what their production talent is capable of.

Benoit & Sergio put out better electronic-disco-soul-funk than anyone else and you'd be foolish to sleep on this. Despite their Washington DC-via-Berlin background Bridge So Far is incredibly French and, more importantly, incredibly good.

Bridge So Far is released via Hot Creations on 4 February. Preview via Soundcloud below: