J. Albert / Person Of Interest - EDR002

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  • J. Albert and Person Of Interest can be found in the grubbier part of the dance music firmament, having orbited a constellation of labels including L.I.E.S., Black Opal and Ital's Lover's Rock. Appearing together on a record for the first time, they manage to shine brighter than either has on their own. They also deviate slightly from their usual styles, landing on a raddled, vaguely retro house sound. The pair's foggy atmospheres, broad swing settings and blissful moods have plenty of precedents, from Anthony Naples to parts of the Mood Hut roster. But with the exception of POI's unremarkable "Still," each of these tracks distinguishes itself. J. Albert's "Thank You For Believing In Me" is the highlight. There's probably a sample loop too many in there, but as each threadbare sound is tossed onto the pile, the jubilant mood somehow grows rather than disappearing in the chaos. His "See You At The Bank" muscles in on the breakbeat house racket run by the likes of PLO Man. Its payoff is delivered by tart chord stabs that bounce and sizzle in the latter half. The track's only flaw is its brevity: those loose-limbed drums could happily boom along for another couple of minutes. On Person of Interest's side, "Pompano Acid"'s clattering drums could've been lifted from Feelings by Local Artist, though the stuff on top—a sprightly acid line, gorgeous scudding organs—takes it somewhere fresh. As with the rest of the EP, the track throngs with material, as if the producer didn't quite have the heart to edit it all down. In this instance, too many ideas turned out to be just the right amount.
  • Tracklist
      A1 J. Albert - Thank You For Believing In Me A2 J. Albert - See You At The Bank B1 Person Of Interest - Pompano Acid B2 Person Of Interest - Still
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