- The king of melodies, Gabriel Ananda, is back for his latest workout, this time on Cologne label Tonsport. The result is a solid EP with Ananda’s usual mixture of sophisticated production and careful melodic manipulation.
On the title track, Ananda takes Tonsport’s motto to heart: ‘music to raise room temperature’. 'Kuppers City' starts in a hurry and is clearly designed to get the feet moving, the heart racing and the arms pumping. If anything the BPMs are a bit too high, and it works better when pitched down slightly. An elastic bassline, along with some reverb, filters and plenty more of Ananda’s tweaks keep this track ticking over energetically. The beauty of Ananda’s productions normally lie in the warmth and open feel they radiate. This however, is a real stomper and perhaps a bit too strong. ‘Kuppers City’ is a bit too in your face and down your throat for this reviewer’s liking, but could find its way onto the dancefloor.
The pairing found on the B side are much better balanced pieces, with 'Kopfsalat' being the pick of the EP. Ananda has calmed down and this is a cut well suited for late in the night or early in the morning, as the case may be. A breezy melody greets and charms the listener and it is not long before some low-end action is introduced to level things out. A couple of minutes in and the record comes into full bloom as Ananda shows off his considerable abilities, generating a lush array of synth soundscapes. The other B sider develops a similar vibe, but not in such an effective manner. It is a bit more up tempo, and the cut up bass along with a filtered melody give it a bit of a stuttering feel. 'Nur Nüchtern Ist Auch Nicht Immer So Gut' is a solid track for sure, but fizzles away a bit too much and isn't quite the journey it could have been.
This is an EP which will no doubt appeal to fans of Gabriel Ananda. His signature sounds can definitely be felt here, especially on the B side, where the tracks work quite well. Saying that, it seems like he just doesn't quite hit the mark on this release.