Alex Arnout // Science Friction [Turquoise Blue]

Engineer extraordinaire Alex Arnout holds centre-court on this occasion to turn out an exceptional EP on newcomer Turqouise Blue. Having gained heavy rotation recently with the excellent Sound-Byte EP (inc Ryan Crossan and Damien Lazurus) this had my full attention as I hit play.

All three tracks are winners, with title track Science Friction rolling into town featuring a slightly detuned and sub-laden bass leading things nicely into a deep-garage beat. We got soul rises over the mix before popping down into the main groove where all the nuences are expertly sewn together until we hit the main break. The atmosphere generated here through delays and reverb are vibrantly worked, before a distressed string pattern ties the bass and bells together perfectly to wrap it up.

This Way takes a more tribal approach and gruff atmosphere, which I heartily approve of, and again, the perc splashes and fx are perfection. The female and male vox hits lift the track fantastically, as does the clap fills and urgency of the underpinning synth to fill out the sound. Then it’s mayhem when the break hits and the synth segues with the bassline – sleazy, sexy and supreme.

Break The Flake, a collaboration with Daren Nunes, takes us down 909 valley with brain burstingly sweet and heavy bass to boot. This takes a spacey approach to the atmosphere, fx and segments to support the percussion and beats – which means this one works on deeper level, but rinses the senses all the same in the most satisfying of ways – especially, again, at the break.

3 out of 3 tracks are all winners? You better believe it..

Release Date: Aug ’12
Words: Mike 13