Max Cooper // Inflections EP [Traum]
Having created a thoroughly unique canvas to throw his own artistry at over the past few years, Max Cooper continues to inspire for many through his productions, edits and live sets. Therefore, a new release on Traum is always something to be hotly anticipated.
Title track, Spiral Inflections has been a live favourite and picks up an immediate jacking flow on every 16-bars (especially the bass-drop), which means that we hit a truly agitated and excited furrow within the minute. It’s pleasingly uplifted and a marker of intent to enjoy from the off. There are also elements which play homage to early house and techno too, but done with the finesse, power, FX flashes and a care to detail you would expect from Max in 2012. There’s also plenty of filters holding the sound in-check and a perfect mid-bass purr-out that completes the soundtrack, this one is a cracking excursion.
Gravity Well explores the more scientific and organic sound we associate with Max and is, as always, a beautiful excursion in electronica, drifting magnificently and is great as it sets me up for…
Basal Ganglia – which is just completely ROCKING from the bass-drop. With a deliciously nasty vibe, the bassline is impossible to ignore as it drives headlong into the break. Then we’re forcibly immersed in a BT/Zabiela-esque world of glitch sampling and sublime production before we hit a drop which is quite simply magnificent. The biggest track on here for me, by some stretch.
Musically, it’s as deft and defiant an affair you would expect from Mr Cooper with no let up on quality, bravado or style either. It is, at times, beautiful, delicate and powerful stuff – enjoy.
Release Date: Oct 1st (Vinyl)
Words: Mike 13
