Sam Ball - Carbon EP

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  • When Sam Ball’s new EP landed in my postbox, I got a little excited. His ‘Stealth’ EP on Urbantorque last year was a great slice of catchy tech house that became a staple in Cattaneo and Kleinenberg sets for months. So I was intrigued to hear how this talented tech house would fare on a more progressive tip. Title track ‘Carbon’ is an early 00’s progressive throwback, and while some may get nostalgic at the familiar sounds, I got bored. It’s centred around sweeping melodies and a deep, heaving bassline, but sounds a little too similar to Lexicon Avenue’s 2003 remix of Depeche Mode’s ‘Only When I Lose Myself’ to these ears. It’s a useful track with a lot of dancefloor merit, but lacks originality. On the flip is ‘Yes/No’, a proggy cut that cuts through similar terrain. It sounds a little dated. Closer to the Sam Ball formula of old with tight drums building around a simple riff, unfortunately it doesn’t quite hit like his Urbantorque efforts and ends up sounding a little flat. Ball is relying too much on effects and filters and the creativity of his previous efforts isn’t evident here at all. This talented producer misses the mark with this one. The progressive sound isn’t where Sam Ball shines. Take a listen to his EPs on Urbantorque to hear him at his techy best.
  • Tracklist
      A Carbon B Yes/No
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