Actress - Rainy Dub / Faceless

Actress is another artist totally pushing the boundaries of this thing they now call bass music. I really enjoy his fascinating progressive style and this double header of new tracks won't be appearing on his upcoming 2012 album. 'Faceless' is the side I'm initially drawn to and it fires at you with a giddy cartoon zig-zag gribit, a spectral oriental style motif, some lush understated synth and loads of lots of cyber glitches and digital steam plumes. The track has a really implicit pulse to it that keeps it within the realms of techno but there's so much engaging and exploratory shimmering beauty throughout the journey here that would appeal to fans of anybody from The Knife to Sleeparchive or Loscil. 'Rainy Dub' works incredibly well too, another minimal piece forged from a simple signature bass loop and an abstracted melody built from bloopy android fragments whilst the discreet churn of a muted alarm provides the tracks propulsion. It really is amazing how this man can create such interesting new forms of sublime electronic immersion out of the simplest ingredients. Top marks for a top lad.