T.B. Arthur - Acid Artifacts

  • Published
    Mar 2, 2016
  • Label
    White label
    N/A
  • Released
    May 2016
  • Genres
    House · Acid
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  • When talking about classic acid house, words like dirty, gritty, raw are often applied. Some fit T.B. Arthur better than others. Where a typical record from, say, DJ International sounds lived in, a T.B. Arthur track is smooth and machine-like. So much contemporary acid house involves a sense of nostalgia, but T.B. Arthur is more cold and detached. Acid Artifacts is a four-tracker collating material from past releases, which T.B. Arthur has edited to be "tighter, cleaner and faster." The only fresh inclusion is "B2," whose plucked bass synth gives the opening minute an EBM feel. It then switches to an acid sequence that revs like a cartoon motorcycle—in less capable hands, the silliness could wear thin, but "B2" is a lot of fun. T.B. Arthur offsets his antics with one-shots, reverb-heavy claps and other slick touches. On the equally animated "A2," acid lines oscillate wildly, before trailing off with a flourish. There's a lot going on, but everything in "A2" gets plenty of space to roam. T.B. Arthur tugs the reins on "A1" and "B1," but as his 303 reduces to a simmer the drums keep bubbling. On "A1," sonar blips ping over a steady acid line. "B1"'s similar sequence is lean and stringy, letting the kicks do the muscle work.
  • Tracklist
      A1 Untitled A2 Untitled B1 Untitled B2 Untitled
RA