- With a small but perfectly formed catalogue on Planet E, Rush Hour and now Yore—just five physical EPs in ten years—it's clear that Tony Ollivierra, AKA Ibex, favours quality over quantity. Indeed, his attention to detail is apparent from the moment the needle drops on Meltdown. Rumbling beats and what sounds like a double bass introduce "18681," before dramatic yet slightly mysterious strings and a warm, fluid bassline seduce the listener.
The title track has a less electronic feeling, with rawer beats and a squelchy funk bassline providing the basis for Ollivierra to engage in some indulgent but entertaining Rhodes doodling as indistinct chatter drifts in and out from his local watering hole. On the flip, "My Mojo" sees Ibex opt for a deeper approach; the jazzy sounds are still audible, but a more robust bassline and a soaring string sequence lends it momentum. Ollivierra, however, reserves his best track for last. "Mystery Babylon" is like an amalgamation of all of the other track's best bits; the unnamed barflies return to mutter in the background, while a fluid bassline acts as the centrepiece for glorious disco strings and even some electronic, UR-style blips and bleeps. In as much as the term "soulful house" conjures up images of dodgy Hed Kandi compilations, "Babylon" is indeed the soundtrack to a long, lost summer.
Tracklist A1 18681
A2 Meltdown
B1 My Mojo
B2 Mystery Babylon