There’s something particularly satisfying about hearing forgotten tracks recovered, revisited and finally released for others to discover. Off-Cuts (2014–2021) doesn’t feel like a scattered collection of archival material; instead, it comes across as a carefully gathered snapshot of a creative period, proving that these pieces still have plenty to say.
Serving as a fine snapshot of the artist’s creative phase
Steve Young (aka Scarper) continues to navigate a world of abstract electronics, consistently catching our attention through his output on his own Plexus imprint. Aptly titled Off-Cuts (2014–2021), this release brings together previously unreleased tracks from his Warmer Squares and E-Funk periods—pieces that might otherwise have remained buried within Young’s personal catalog, now recovered and given a new life.
Serving as a fine snapshot of the artist’s creative phase across these seven years, all eight tracks have aged remarkably well, revealing qualities that feel less like forgotten leftovers and more like sounds waiting to be rediscovered. “Synet (Dial-Upp ’00 Mix)” immediately transports us back to the modem-era haze of the ’90s, cascading into an ambient swirl of sonic activity, soundtrack-like fragments and imploding, beat-driven beauty. “Rinse & Repeat (Head & Shoulders Mix)” ventures further into ambient techno territory, while the more upfront “Nightshift (Acid Tuesday Mix)” shuffles bass and percussion into a frenetic, dancefloor-ready rush.
It’s within the (somewhat) slower pieces, though, that Young really opens things up. The erratic, glitch-infested pulse of “Outlier (You’re My Skweeero Mix)” feels congested and fractured as it moves through downtempo breakbeat strains, while standout “Polarity (Curse These Metal Hands Mix)” dips into acidic waters with a full-throttle techno drive, its abstract substructures constantly shifting beneath the surface.
Toward the tail end, the release takes a distinctive electro-infused turn. “Ponderosa (Grilled T-Bone Mix)” pushes Young’s sound into more elevated territory, while the crunchy drum’n’bass collision of “Steppe (Runty-Bunting Mix)” feels remarkably fresh, regardless of when it was originally created. Bringing things to a chilled-out close, “Halocline (Deep Water Mix)” bubbles to the surface through finely shaped micro-melodies and a deeply nostalgic flutter that feels capable of drifting on indefinitely.
There’s something particularly satisfying about hearing forgotten tracks recovered, revisited and finally released for others to discover. Off-Cuts (2014–2021) doesn’t feel like a scattered collection of archival material; instead, it comes across as a carefully gathered snapshot of a creative period, proving that these pieces still have plenty to say.
Off-Cuts (2014 – 2021) is available on Plexus. [Bandcamp]
