V.I.V.E.K - Soundman

Our review
Customer reviews
Press release
Tracklist

A - Soundman
B - Diablo

4...according to our Brian on Thu 24 Nov, 2011.

Nothing this guy does will quite live up to the quality of his 'Feel It' double pack which was virtually up there with Mala's best work. This new effort is pretty damn fine though, 'Soundman' is built from brooding heavy-hearted dubstep with a sinister agenda, a bleak ambient undercurrent, well placed samples, morphing Loefah-style android mid-range and a captivating dystopian synth-line that takes the tune into a higher realm. 'Diablo' on the flip is similarly haunting, combining deep cyborgian stalker tension with some wondrous intricate percussive rhythms, and more beautifully searching synth-work that evokes images of the desperate struggle to find survivors in a post apocalyptic landscape strewn with horror and debris. Easily the best release from him since that aforementioned Deep Medi debut ages back.

V.I.V.E.K returns for his last output of 2011 and what a year it’s been for him. His set with Goth-Trad at the DMZ 6th Birthday is being hailed as one of the sets of 2011 this was quickly followed by Vivek being signed to booking agents ESP. His release’s this year as you would expect have been heavyweight, Pulse & Roots (Medi037) followed by his immense EP ‘Eyes Down’ (Medi042) featuring Big Bang, Spread Love, Sirens and of course Eyes Down. It was after this release that he received a call from original Reggae dons Greensleeves and was asked if he would be interested in remixing the Roots/Reggae classic Johnny Osbourne – ‘Fally Ranking’ for a forthcoming compilation, he obliged and turned out an incredible remix with a heavy nod to the old skool Steppa’s and one of his musical heroes Jah Shaka.
So back to the release in hand, we hope you have a good set of Sub’s because you’re going to need them…. ‘Soundman’ is as dark and cold as it gets, a hard, minimal underground riddim charged with some intricate Techno running’s and a suffocating density ‘Diablo’ starts where ‘Soundman’ left off, more relentless dark, subbed out chest rattling tension from the Soundsystem man V.I.V.E.K.