Following in the footsteps of the small but perfectly formed Struktur label, new UK label Squarediscs has issued a 2-track credit card CD. Set up by Pete Browne and operating out of Coventry in the UK, Squarediscs has an eye for presentation, creating modern yet stylish artwork and using the credit card format as a promotional teaser for things to come. The Rodriguez Mutton Factory credit card CD was soon followed by a self-titled 4-track EP both by new and upcoming artist Peter Eakui recording as Eakui.
Lasting just over 5 minutes, the 2 tracks on the Rodriguez Mutton Factory CD have little time to make a lasting impression. The first and longer of the 2 tracks, “Win Pengle,” is a disjointed track with abstract beats and elastic effects set against equally random electric guitar strumming underpinned by strangely addictive sustained guitar notes. Clocking in at well under 2 minutes, “Gallopuk” takes a slightly more atmospheric route, utilizing what appears to be the Windows warning tone to impersonate an acoustic guitar and adding prominent swirling tonal texture to the mix.
The Eakui EP follows a similar structure of erratic bouncing beats, effects and notes given some cohesive structure by the addition of gentle swirling ambient tones. Track 2 of the 4 untitled tracks on the EP has a jauntier more upbeat feel to it and has a little more structure and a playful childlike quality. Tracks 3 and 4 are the most structured of all across the 2 releases, Track 3 being a fusion of hard thumping beats, chiming melodies and soaring synth tones and Track 4 being its gentler counterpart with a slow thudding bassline and more emphasis on melody and mood.
A great first showing for Squarediscs and Eakui with a good cross-section of styles and variance across a relatively short time frame. As illustrated by Struktur, the very limited credit card CD is a great promotional tool if presented properly and the tracks carefully chosen (as they are here). Eakui displays a talent for various forms of electronic music, often mixing weird abstraction with more structured forms to create a cohesive whole. Eakui will be worth looking out for in the future and indeed has made a showing on the recent Orange Zero Six EP on Struktur.
EAKUI’s Rodriguez Mutton Factory + Eakui EP are OUT NOW on Squarediscs.
