- Steevio, the modular synth artist and cofounder of Freerotation festival, sounds nothing like Shackleton, STL or, say, Mr. G, but he shares something in common with each of those artists: his sound is his and his alone, and has been remarkably consistent in all the years he's been making music. Luckily, it's a sound that's very hard to tire of. Drifting rhythms and flickering synths define most of his productions, each of which aims for that liminal zone him and his peers seem to know so well, perfectly perched between dance floor and chill-out. Steevio's been honing this formula for nearly two decades, and is still getting better as time goes on, his sound more subtle and expressive with each release. Forgotten Futures, his new one on the Berlin label Wake Up! Records, might be his best yet.
As with a number of artists in the Freerotation fold—Leif in particular—Steevio is a master of mellow moods and light-footed rhythms. The title track and "Machlud" (Welsh for "sunset") flit by like streaks of light on a screen. The drums and bassline follow jazzy, syncopated grooves, cradling the firefly synths that are the cornerstone of Steevio's sound. "Green Therapy," with its gusts of snares and brisk 4/4 pulse, turns the heat up a bit, but is still the kind of thing you'd dance to with your eyes closed. Luis, the young New York producer also known as DJ Wey, recasts it as dreamy breakbeat, adding another subtle shade to this lovely EP.
TracklistA1 Machlud
A2 Forgotten Futures
B1 Green Therapy
B2 Green Therapy (Luis Remix)