Dan White - Off Bluff EP

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  • A message on the back of Rory McPike's new record as Dan White reads, "Keep it REAL, use hardware, stay different." The statement surely rings true of the Melbourne artist's eclectic releases for Forbidden Planet and Normals Welcome, not to mention his synthy ambient project Rings Around Saturn, but it feels especially central to the Off Bluff EP. Though these three tracks share similar sounds and machines, no two are the least bit similar in style or execution. McPike's 12-inch spans lush jungle soundscapes, gnarled drum machine workouts and cosmic house, all carried out with the touch of a producer sticking to what he knows. Simply by virtue of its influences, "The Hammer (Think Mix)" can't break free of pastiche; chopped drum breaks, dayglo pads, breathy vocal delay, sirens and massive bass drops make it all sound too on the nose. Yet it's nonetheless a fun 11 minutes of 128 BPM rave nostalgia that could add some colorful energy to the right set. The two B-sides also do well with their varied dance floor milieus. Rugged, blown-out and playful, "Just A Beat" comes off like an anomaly in McPike's catalog, while "Sacoid" has the most in common with his previous records. That track's hues of sci-fi mystery and astral splendor drape over its sprightly drum machine bounce for a spellbinding jaunt. With its clarity of vision and distinctive arrangement, "Sacoid" suggests McPike would do well to narrow his focus somewhat, even if he has the chops to spread his music far across sounds and styles.
  • Tracklist
      A1 The Hammer (Think Mix) B1 Just A Beat B2 Sacoid
RA