- LEVELS can be filed alongside the likes of Rhythm Section and Principals as a young, residents-centric London party with a loose music policy and close ties to NTS Radio and Boiler Room. Its founder Jon Rust, however, is no newcomer—he hosts the excellent No Boring Intros show on NTS and also co-runs Standard Place with Oneman et al. In keeping with the ethos of its parent night, the LEVELS label's first release is clearly more concerned with character than dance floor utility—these rough-edged tracks, all head-nodders of fine pedigree, touch on a range of tempos and styles.
Little is known about Lord Tusk, but his recent turn on the Boiler Room, where he displayed a taste for smoky, psychedelic dub, offers a clue as to this EP's orientation. "Natural Partnership (Hightower mix)" is essentially a modern digi-dub number, powered by chunky drum machine rhythms and a muscular bassline. "As We Speak It Grows Stronger" leans more towards boomy vintage electro, while its synth work is gloriously cosmic. Elsewhere Tusk flirts with house, though he's careful not to make his dancers break a sweat—both "Female Body Guards (Arms House Mix)" and "Non Conformist" coast along at a languid 106 BPM. The former, with its coarse hi-hats and bass stabs, is almost grime-like at the opening, but it's soon softened by shiny deep house chords and some innocuous digi-bongos. The latter has a similar feel, though a clotted synth lends it a slightly pulpy vibe.
TracklistA1 Natural Partnership (Hightower Mix)
A2 Non Conformist
B1 As We Speak It Grows Stronger
B2 Female Bodyguards (Arms House Mix)