Debut EP of Niko Maxen on Constant Black
Constant Sound's vital Constant Black offshoot welcomes Nike Maxen for a fine debut that comes after the artist has impressed already in 2020 with EPs on Mellow, Talman and Honne Music. The sounds on offer are classy and heady, with opener 'Dogwood' pairing dreamy pads and sparse percussion with a nice rolling and dubby beat. 'Laurel' picks up the pace but remains supremely smooth, and 'Willow' again gets you even more upright with its punchy kicks, but the languid pads keep things deep. Closer 'Whitebeam' is an icy cool tech house number with heady loops and superb bass warmth. This is another functional but characterful offering from this label.