UK-based producer and guitarist Keith Vaz, aka With Joyful Lips, has created a wonderful fusion of deep 2-step and folk-style guitar songs.
[Release page] I’ve been following the London/Bristol-based label A Future Without for quite a while. To me it seems they have a uncanny knack for picking up artists with a great deal of potential in a variety of electronic and rock genres. For example, they unleashed acts such as Kähn, Zhou and Memotone, all of whom have gone on to do big things in their respective genres. Now we have With Joyful Lips, a producer that I’m convinced has a very bright future ahead of him.
UK-based producer and guitarist Keith Vaz, aka With Joyful Lips, has created a wonderful fusion of deep 2-step and folk-style guitar songs. This is shown in all its wonderful subtlety on EP opener, “The Promise of Sleep.” Through the deft and understated guitar parts come layers of drifting ambience, almost sounding like shoegaze at times. But these elements usually find their place just behind the more upfront beats, samples and found sounds, which brings something else to the listener.
And while associations with Burial cannot easily be sidestepped, With Joyful Lips is no mere imitator. He brings something fresh and alive to the mellower side of UK dance, especially through his use of classical instrumentation and phrasing, plus a healthy dose of static and spoken-word samples. The end of the first track is particularly beautiful, for instance, as the main guitar phrase is stretched out with notes reversing back into one another.
There are two collaborations with dubstep producer Asa called “Ganzfeld Effect” and “Bardo Thödol.” These tracks bring wordless vocal loops, field recordings and heavier doses of sub bass to the fore. They are also two of the most interesting, non-linear tracks on the album. In fact, it would be good to hear these guys collaborate more often, judging by the excellent results displayed here.
Third tune, “Suspension of Disbelief,” is more of a traditional folk song, albeit with a driving beat underpinning proceedings. The guitar lines are clearer on this one and there are subtle lyrics (which I assume are sung by Vaz, though I can’’t be sure) hiding in the lower regions of the mix. It’s a nice change from the first few tracks, but it’s still totally in keeping with the rest of the EP.
My favourite track also follows in the folkier, song-based guitar tradition. “Sleep and his Half-Brother Death” keeps things simpler in terms of instrumentation and chords. The beats are heavily-swung two-step grooves, the bass lovingly hugs the track and the quick fingerpicked guitar is allowed space to breathe over the top. The poetic vocals are more dominant on this track, too, with occasional female BVs during the chorus.
Last track, “Melatonin,” is an hypnotic, ten-minute epic. The vocal samples are themed around sleep, as is hinted at throughout the six tracks in terms of both sound and samples. It’s a fitting end to what is an supremely evocative, dreamy EP. I’m looking forward to hearing more from With Joyful Lips.
Oneironautics EP is available on A Future Without. [Release page]
