- Like a teary-eyed Efdemin or a soft-spoken Pantha Du Prince, German producer Christian Löffler harnesses microsamples, natural ambience and quiet melancholy in his dance music. Also like those artists, there's usually some extra personality and songcraft that sets Löffler apart from the large swath of ambient techno that's out there. That distinction comes from his poignantly simplistic melodies and deft control of open space, which York offers plenty of across its three tracks. "Lhoste," for instance, keeps its beat lively and uncluttered despite a number of soft harmonic textures, flurries of brittle percussion and recurring vocal refrains. The music's barely perceptible exuberance should make for a nice pitstop in a club setting, but on record its lack of variety can leave York feeling flat.
When Löffler does kick the energy up a notch on "Nordkap," he loses a bit of himself in the process. It has been noted a number of times, but it bears repeating: the similarities Löffler and Pantha Du Prince share are often uncanny. And it's never more apparent on York than with "Nordkap"'s marimba samples and gentle bassline—the chilly demeanor is a deadringer for a few Black Noise standouts. "York" tempers that familiar sound with tender strings and a stripped-down composition, and those small differences are helpful to Löffler.
TracklistA1 York
B1 Lhotse
B2 Nordkap