Jamie Grind / Gon - Infra12003 EP (12" vinyl)

The next Infrasonics split 12" is another four-track double A side introducing two new artists to the label and the wider UK bass scenes. The ‘Infra12003’ EP presents Jamie Grind vs Gon: the bright, urban hypercolour synth lines of the former battling the driving funky shuffle of the latter. This record presents another abstraction of the melting pot of styles and influences that permeate underground UK dance, with two contrasting perspectives of sound system culture. Jamie Grind is a fresh Leeds based producer who creates hip hop influenced urban grooves with a 2-step skip and a healthy dose of optimism. The opening stabs and vocal snatches of ‘If You Want’ are instantly infectious, setting the sunshine vibe before dropping a skippy, yet understated garage beat underpinned by a lurching bass figure that references similar terrain as Brackles or Shortstuff, albeit in less overtly electro fashion. The track progresses to introduce swirling, modulated lead synth lines with the satisfying, humane feel of something from an old P-Funk record, diametrically opposing much of the machine coded modulations from other recent funk influenced dance tracks. ‘Balloon’ follows a similar trajectory, though with a marginally more abstract bent. A doubling of the initial chord movement plus a layered brass-like analogue lead spirals up before dropping a warm sub that locks tight into groove with the stepper's drums. The subtle embellishments and interjections throughout each track keeps the vibe bubbling at exactly the right temperature; both are tantilising short but fully formed, referencing an almost pop sensibility and demanding instant repeat play. Gon is the work of an Italian ex-pat now settled in Dublin. His house and UK funky-based productions have a maturity of sound, solidified by his wide musical exposure whilst manning the counter at the now sadly defunct Freebird record store. ‘Chaka Mad’ supplies a raucous introduction to his sound, a bashy rhythm centered around a throbbing bassline that cuts, drops, builds and modulates in all the right places to keep the dance blazing. A slight respite is introduced with synthetic pizzicato string towards the end before the cut-off rolls the bass back to sub frequencies and the track deconstructs. This is a DJ plate of the first order, destined to wreck any floor! ‘Riddance’ drops the vibes and BPM a few notches with a beautifully constructed UK funky track that exercises similar restraint as recent Pearson Sound or Ramadanman outings. The instant the thundering kick drum starts with the familiar soca-esque pattern and offbeat sub we are drawn inside the infectious rhythm. Subtle keys and well placed sound fx add empahsis and colour to the beat as the synth line pushes and pulls around the groove. In delivering their latest four-part must-have, Spatial’s Infrasonics continues its confident growth as one of the pre-eminent outlets of British underground dance culture today.  

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