Slow It Down is the latest release on Glasgow Underground and it's the work of one Zach Hunsaker, going by the name of Small Pyramids. Hunsaker's musical experience developed in Los Angeles where he began DJing using a mixture of disco, funk and R&B. Having got into production through re-edits, then sampling and ultimately full original tracks his first EP, Another Way To Feel, came out in 2010 and the resulting acclaim led to him signing to GU.
Slow It Down features three tracks already released as Small Pyramids - his first single, from 2011, "I Want Blood" along with "The Music" and "Don't Do It To Me" - joined by a number of new productions.
The overall sound is smooth ballearic take on disco that takes a lot of inspiration from the production techniques of R&B, though the style of each track varies significantly. "Lil' Bit" is a gently swaying soul track with a male and female vocal pairing and some disco guitar. In contrast that aforementioned single, "I Want Blood", bubbles away with a looped crescendo designed to celebrate the first moments of post-sunset partying - soft but with a definite intent.
There are further diversions - the album's latter tracks are more laid back. "Driftin'" has a heavy, slow moving bass line that has to fight against gravity to manage its own weight whilst a whispered vocal and synth melody give the track a hot and sunny sound. "Make It Smoother" meanwhile is funky R&B that demonstrates Hunsaker's ability to produce more lively cut-up sounds.
Slow It Down is straightforward in vision - it's a fairly simple collection of electronic disco jams but for those who like their music with restraint there is a fair amount here to enjoy.
Slow It Down is released through Global Underground on 30 September, available to pre-order from Amazon.co.uk on MP3 now [affiliate link].