- Justin Cudmore is following in the footsteps of another Midwest native, Mike Servito, by making waves in his adopted home of New York and around the world. And like Servito, Cudmore eats, sleeps and breathes acid house. His brand of acid often takes a more experimental tack, zeroing in on the style's psychedelic side. His entry into Interdimensional Transmissions' new Acid Series expands on the potential of his last two records, for Honey Soundsystem and The Bunker New York, by delivering two wriggly stunners alongside two conventional acid workouts.
Acid Series is inspired by Interdimensional Transmissions' mythical No Way Back party in Detroit, and Cudmore's instalment matches the event's mix of tripped-out swagger and straightforward jack. The best tracks here are all about that swagger. With its chaotic bounce and tittering snares, the EP's standout, "Flirt," has shades of Cudmore's Honey Soundsystem release. "Duck Hunt" features layered squelchy leads that feel dense without getting oppressive. Cudmore's now-signature bobbling lead lines make both tracks feel unusually fluid.
Cudmore's other two efforts are less novel. "11:11 Live" is a raw acid jam that lacks the colourful quirks of the rest of the EP, while "Outsider (BK Acid Mix)" is repetitive verging on droning, a blunt force weapon compared to Cudmore's more creative designs Acid Series Vol. 2's best moments are when Cudmore pushes acid to its limits, and it features two of his best experiments yet.
TracklistA1 Flirt
A2 Outsider (BK Acid Mix)
B1 Duck Hunt
B2 11:11 Live