- John Tejada pumps out hardware-centric house, full of plush synths and techy drum programming, at a steady clip. He's the kind of producer who always sounds comfortable in his own skin, a vibe he shares with Tin Man (AKA Johannes Auvinen), who has settled into his own melancholic acid-techno niche over the years. The two make a good pair because of how well-developed their identities are, collaborating well while still retaining their individuality.
The theme behind Swift Box is driving, which should be no surprise coming from a handful of people with a whole lot of experience in LA. It translates to smooth, rolling house akin to cruising down the highway past a traffic jam in the HOV lane. ("Diamond Lanes," the EP's smoothest roller, is named for that very scenario.) The title track is the most satisfying combination of their talents. It's glossy and techy, like a Tejada track, but mournful like a Tin Man tune. And there's a major payoff once Auvinen's acid lines come wriggling out in full splendour. On the other end of the spectrum, the producers play it close to the chests on "Deep Traffic." That one's subterranean groove percolates carefully for almost eight minutes, enough to make you wish it would let loose, even if for a few bars.
Swift Box is rounded off by a remix from Acid Test label-mates Achterbahn D'Amour, who gives "Diamond Lanes" an attractively scruffy makeover. It's both darker and more upbeat, the peak-time counterpart to the rest of the EP's warm-up vibes. The edginess is alluring. As a whole, Swift Box goes down as easy as any Tejada record, which has always been his biggest strength and weakness. But there's pleasure in hearing artists do what they know, and that's exactly what we get on the tenth Acid test release, with each collaborator fully in their comfort zones.
TracklistA1 Swift Box
A2 Diamond Lanes
B1 Diamond Lanes (Achterbahn D'Amour Rmx)
B2 Deep Traffic