Well Rounded kick off 2011 with the deep space bump-n-hustle of Littlefoots aptly named >Interplanetary< EP. All 4 tracks contrast tuff dry drums & low sweeping subs with cosmic atmospheres and twilight melodies and chords. Theres a unique strictness in the drums here, less swung than typical garage but with innovative programming that shows a producer keen to explore new possibilities. As ever with Well Rounded and our producer friends, we are celebrating influences from the past - think classic 4/4 UK garage in the vein of Dem 2, mixed with early 90s rave sounds and welded together in a Motor City car plant. With added post-dubstep production sensibilities, Littlefoot is creating an unheralded hybrid sound. All 4 tracks contribute to the completeness of the ep - we go in hard, explore different areas and complete our journey with the last track. We hope you enjoy this trip.
Kicking off ‘Tuesday Club' is driven by hard punchy drums, lurching bass and Kevin ‘Reese' Saunderson stylee chord stabs and has nuff nrg and momentum for any future embracing dancefloors. All the drum fills and pattern switches are off the hook yet kept tightly gripped. The phasing and filtering adds a psychedelic sheen and dig the drama and tension in the midway drop. An unusual yet instant opener for sure.
DJ Dom drops in with his rebuild of ‘Sell My Soul' (originally released on Whistla's L2S label and a big tune in it's own right). Dom lowers the original tempo down to a satisfying house pace, keeps the drums and bass sturdy but goes otherworldly with layers of bubbles, static and hovering haze. From this emerges another early 90s chord stab (this time recalling Outlander's ‘Vamp') and the smiles break out. Sophisticated alien rave material.
Flip over and you are greeted by the sure shot shuffle fest (try saying that with a mouthful of biscuits) of ‘Great Dark Spot'. The drums on this are highly revered in the Well Rounded office placing sub-dividing triplet accents across a 4/4 frame and leaving lots of sumptuous space. Rhythmic perspectives shift after the drop just adding to the excellence.
Bringing our ride to a conclusion, ‘Planet October' brings some solar soul. Sighing motifs move slowly under rays of synth-created sunlight. Still the drums and bass maintain that tightly-wound funkiness so you're in no doubt Littlefoot is at the controls. And our thanks to him!