- Under his own name, Max McFerren makes warehouse techno for labels like Shoot The Lobster and Aery Metals. As MCFERRDOG, he explores wilder, more colourful ideas for 1080p. Both projects are ear-catching, if not a little unsatisfying—the former too staid, the latter lacking clear focus. Which makes Sipps, for 1080p's nascent vinyl series, a canny move. The EP's four tracks are packed with MCFERRDOG-style synth excess, but assembled with dancefloor-minded rigour. It's a neat exercise in splitting differences that makes for McFerren's best work yet.
The title track's melodies, dancing through strange harmonic zones over a sturdy house beat, call to mind Joey Anderson, though McFerren's version has a characteristic dusting of sugar. "Der Funke" follows the same premise, but takes a more extreme trajectory, beginning thoughtfully and ending with a crowded climax. The EP's other half opts for chunkier breakbeat rhythms. The synth-voice doot-doots of "Ya Bad Sister" wobble on the tightrope of good taste. "Hard To Say"'s reedy synths strike a particularly nice contrast with the muscular percussion. Later, when McFerren piles on thick organ chords, he loses the clarity of his idea. Much of Sipp suffers from similar overloading. Then again, it was always going to be a challenge to unite McFerren's opposing personalities on one record, and he makes an admirable go of it here.
TracklistA1 Sipps
A2 Der Funke
B1 Ya Bad Sister
B2 Hard To Say