NexGen Music brings you a four track EP, Northern Lights, with tracks from Faible, Clart & mSdos, Physical Illusion & Sunny Crimea and Reborn.
The EP is kicked off by Faible and his enchanting ‘Northern Lights’. Faible has set himself quite a task in living up to the name of this track but the execution is perfect. The track is highly reminiscent of the sort of sounds that were coming out of the scene in the late 90’s and early 2000’s.
This track, like ‘Disco Inferno’, is all about hitting a soulful vibe and really taking things back to basics. No overpowering bass and no overly layered kicks and snares, just a well crafted track using basic instruments. It’s been along time since you would have heard a piano being used in its purest and simplest form like Faible does here.
We are then sent to ‘Disco Inferno’ by Clart and mSdos. Once again the vibe is soulful, the composition is simple and it really hits a jazzy note like ‘Northern Lights.’ The tempo is picked up a lot more by the energetic percussion and use of an amen break which builds up the EP nicely.
You may be forgiven for wanting a change of tempo within both of these tracks but if you’re a pure junglists that won’t bother you at all. You could argue the second drop takes things in a slightly darker direction and that will be enough to please most. However, once again the track uses instruments in a way that is not done too often now-a-days: in the way they were originally used.
Next up Sunny Crimea and Physical Illusion tell us ‘Something About Love’. This track is in many ways very similar to the opening track but with a higher emphasis on the lower basslines. The track follows the pattern that has been set throughout the EP and is all about building atmosphere without losing the energy.
If you were hoping for the energy to be raised to new levels then you may disappointed. However, if you have an appreciation for simple compositions with perfected sounds this again hits a jazz sun-lounge vibe perfect for these summery days.
The last track entitled ‘Mario In Computer Hell’ by Reborn drastically changes direction. A strange hybrid of blippy and glitchy electro stabs with deep whirling bass may leave some listeners slightly confused.
As of yet, I’m undecided on my opinion. Although it is well produced, it just doesn’t fit the vibe of the EP and is probably a change of tone too drastic to really work. It is definitely the sort of track that will divide opinion which, in many ways, is a good thing.
A really strong EP from this collection of artists with some fantastic hybrid sounds. Good changes of pace and styles definitely cater for wider audiences and there probably aren’t many people out there who can’t get along with at least one of these tracks. NexGen really could be a force to be reckoned with in 2013.
Listen to NexGen Music on Pulse Radio