- The South London artist shows a new side to his trademark deep house sound.
- Having a trademark sound can be a blessing and a curse. On one hand, offering listeners something consistent is a great way to build a devoted following. But repetition can also lead to stagnation. The best producers straddle this spectrum, updating their sound when the time is right. Seb Wildblood, the South London artist who runs the labels Church, all my thoughts and Coastal Haze, broke into the scene with jazzy deep house. While his growing discography has never leaped into techno or more intense sounds, his most recent EP, Grab The Wheel, is his most dynamic record to date.
One of the record's standout tunes, "Bad Space Habits," shows how Wildblood is able to update his warm, melodic sound with curious instrumentation. Haunting synths ebb and flow while repetitive drums keep the track flowing. Eventually, it breaks open into a mesmerizing breakbeat section that could close a set. It's an emotional tune that still packs a punch. The speedy "Leave It Open" delves into garage, mixing warm, rising synths with graceful echoes and more hypnotic parts that evolve without crowding the mix. "Grab The Wheel" finds Wildblood nodding to '90s rave nostalgia while still maintaining his sensual approach, as does "Landing," a sparse and meditative bass workout. Grab The Wheel won't alienate the fans who have grown to love Wildblood's charming house sound, but it might win him new ones.
TracklistA1 Leave It Open
A2 Bad Space Habits
B1 Grab The Wheel
B2 Landing