Infrasonics hits heavy with the next 12” in their highly collectable split EP series. As FACTmagazine put it, “Totally pumped, furious work outs from Kingthing and Jamie Grind herald their first release of 2012, showcasing a high-octane mixture of snarling club sounds as aggressively funky as any Swamp 81 or Fade To Mind material”. New signing Kingthing comes correct with two hybrid numbers that build on the garage swagger of his previous outings with a new found focus and intensity and a broadened sonic palette that wraps analogue-style synths within tight digital edits. The intro to ‘Waking Up’ is rhythmic in fits and starts, as vocal hooks and triplet percussive stabs reciprocate before gradually settling, building a continuity of meter with rising pads leading to a crescendo that drops into a killer, technoid resolution of jacking monosynth leads and arpeggios over a slamming kick. ‘Cold Diss’ bangs hard from the off. Distilled juke and booty influences seep through the interplay of the vocal phonemes and pitched sub, but the vibe here is original. The accompanying synth, that briefly introduces the track before later resurfacing to guide, has a cold clinical precision and resonance to it that could be forged by SND or Alva Noto. The context is very different though and the resulting symbiosis is a satisfying romp for the peak hour dance Jamie Grind turned the head of many a player with his first drop for Infrasonics on the ‘Infra12003 EP’ he shared with Gon. Equally, his second pulls no punches. Sonically situated somewhere between Leeds and L.A. he turns in two tracks that weave summer vibes around a propulsive bassline rhythms. ‘For You’ builds around cut up vocal hooks and woozy stabs before resolving into an infectious, driving 4/4 groove. It breaks briefly, breezy chords switching the atmosphere, before settling back into the bassline groove. ‘We Still Play 140’ is a different proposition, constructed around an off kilter piano / stab combo and skittering percussion. It’s unfamiliar territory but Jamie’s ability to settle the listener as the bass and strings give fullness and urgency to the mix and play with the tension and release is a testament to his finely tuned pop sensibilities - man knows how to arrange for devastating impact.

STAFF COMMENTS

Philippa says: Juke style business from the Infrasonics imprint.

TRACK LISTING

A1. KingThing - Waking Up
A2. KingThing - Cold Diss
AA1. Jamie Grind - For You
AA2. Jamie Grind - We Still Play 140