L A Williams’ ‘Nowhere is Here’ EP begins with an original mix by the man himself, a Bournemouth based DJ and producer. Following this decidedly progressive techno mix are four remixes by Nick Muir, DREF, Robbie Steven and Ovi Valentino.
From the outset of Original Mix the EP announces it’s low-key vibe, with scattering, whispering beats. There’s ever-present bass, but it’s not in your face – in fact it’s quite meditative. As you lapse into the early stages of the EP, you’ll find yourself instinctively wanting to move, a feeling that won’t let up – you’ll pick apart the layers and realise the great energy boiling underneath. Nick Muir’s remix stands out in its almost mysterious quality, like wandering through a forest after twilight, again with a sort of subdued energy.
The whole EP (don’t let ‘EP’ fool you, by the way – this is no short listen – the shortest track is nearly six minutes and the longest over nine) functions perfectly as a soundscape you can enter into that allows for contemplation without once letting your attention deviate from the music.
There are no predictable moments here, and no hackneyed melodies. The drums are irregular – not in terms of timing but in their uniqueness, as if the artists are utilising a space that not everyone would. The DREF remix has this building up motif, which makes for great releases of energy. All of the remixes contribute to this picture that emerges, one that feels more like the movements of a symphony, with some subtle differences and some huge.
EP is by no means afraid to venture away from more popularistic sounds, making it a listening experience that stretches beyond the somewhat predictable realm of techno, into a thing of its own.
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