- Tiny details matter in drum & bass. Listen to "Shrunken Heads," the A-side of Quartz & Survey's new EP, in passing and you'll hear a well-oiled and vaguely atmospheric club tune. But if you really get into the nitty-gritty, you will understand why it's so moreish. Its drum pattern aligns with the cushioned bassline particularly well, giving the duo's heavy sound an unusually sensuous feel. Add the uplifting chords that drift around the rest of the track, and you've got something special.
"Shrunken Heads" is from the first release on Acrylic, a new label from the UK producers Quartz & Survey. Technoid and detail-oriented, this debut EP presents Acrylic as a disciple of the Bristol label UVB-76 Music. On "Motion Design" the percussion has a makeshift feel, as if the beats were strung together from pieces of scrap metal. It's the kind of thing that would sound chaotic if it weren't so tightly wound. The duo's tracks overshadow a remix of "Shrunken Heads" by Kid Drama, whose effort seems like a missed opportunity. He could have taken the melodic and wistful route of his recent work, but instead he makes the track even more battle-ready. That said, there are still plenty of details to appreciate.
TracklistA1 Shrunken Heads
B1 Shrunken Heads (Kid Drama Remix)
B2 Motion Design