- As an EP of back-to-basics instrumental grime, Salvage 2017 passes the test. Its first three tracks feel like skilfully executed tributes to early Ruff Sqwad or Roll Deep—the kind of tunes made on a PlayStation and immediately pressed onto white label vinyl. "Salvage Lurking," the EP's most aggressive cut, would be perfectly at home on more traditional grime labels like Oil Gang or No Hats No Hoods. "Know Already," the highlight, is bound to get plenty of rewinds, with its rugged textures, cracking drums and a ruthless bassline reminiscent of Dizzee Rascal's "Hoe." In terms of sheer power and sound design, all would do serious damage in the right context.
But they're not that original. Considering their maker is Bok Bok, a pioneer who's stayed ahead of the UK club curve for the better part of a decade, they don't make much of a splash. His last few EPs added something new to the conversation by injecting "21st-century future funk" into grime's rhythmic framework. His recent collaborations with the keyboardist Sweyn Jupiter had a level of melodic sophistication rarely seen in UK club music. On Salvage 2017, Bok Bok pares everything down to the bare minimum. (The entire EP was made using only a 12-bit sampler.) The result is perfectly decent, functional music, but nothing as memorable as his best releases.
Tracklist01. Island Hopping
02. Salvage Lurking
03. Know Already
04. PR Drawbridge