2ndSun – ‘Shimmer’ EP

It would seem Tessier-Ashpool Recordings really have a point to prove. With a solid first entry to its catalogue coming from 2ndSun, and an exciting string of releases from the likes of Spurz and Specialivery forthcoming, the label has focused on functional, futuristic and forceful club trax, regardless of genre, which they’ve appropriately named ‘Machine Music’. I can feel my biceps getting bigger and bigger with every release entering my inbox.

Neglect opens TAR001 with a pulsating beat fit with extremely crunchy, jaw clenching high hats. The whole thing is threaded together with harsh reversed sounds that really get the shoulders rolling. It’s a dark record, unlike the piercing highs that inject amongst the beaming, resonant synthesis on ‘Shimmer’. It does exactly what it says on the tin and adds a particularly nice slice of brightness to the EP without seeming out of place, thanks to its crunchy and delicious reese bass. Similarly, ‘Pussycat’ is rocking the sounds of the more popular side to deep house, with the latter going that step further with intuitive drum syncopation, giving the track a serious swing.

‘Metro’ borderlines as an explosive DJ tool, brought to life through spacey elements (a theme present in all the tracks). This time, euphoric pads and thick synth-like keys hook the second they strike, meaning it’s able to take centre stage as a fine closer to the EP. The real highlight though, is ‘Small Talk’. It never really blooms until the excellently cheesy sample takes it position amongst the stomping beat, duelling cymbals and quirky filtered machine-like bleeps.

2ndSun does a rather marvellous job of kicking off the – music for robots to jack – to nature of Tessier-Ashpool releases. Shimmer is out now. Check out the preview below and pick up your own copy here.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/165797936″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]