Playing with Electrofunk, colder space sounds and even some Nintendo retrospection Mr. Upton has once again demonstrated his abilities behind the synthesizer and drum machine.
Central Processing Unit returns from the Summer break with its biggest name to date. Ed Upton (aka Ed DMX, DMX Krew), has been delivering Electro, Techno, House, Breaks and Analogue Pop for near twenty years. The UK artist, and founder of Breakin’ Records, is under his DMX Krew alias for his CPU debut: Cities in Flight.
Electro is the genre being explored but Upton adds layers of Funk and Techno to the mix. “Neutron Star” sets the satellite in orbit. A warbling backdrop is supported by terse beats and meandering chords with lofty keys elevating the outcome. Some elements of Upton’s Wave Funk album are present, those spaced out melodies being central in the title piece. On other tracks Upton takes Electrofunk and applies colder machine sounds. “Malformed Video ID” comes from a different place. The track is borderline late 70s game-show electronics, grooved-up tongue in cheek piece. “EPR Phenomena” balances sci-fi chill with whimsical warmth, something like Dopplereffekt meets C64, while “Dependency Gap” is slower and more subtle. The closer, “D75 Theme” is full videogame mode. Fun, playful and catchy Turrican action to close.
Ed Upton has always been a diverse artist, turning his hand to a range of styles during his two decades of electronic artistry. For Cities in Flight DMX Krew on familiar ground, Electro, but he’s put his own spin on it. Playing with Electrofunk, colder space sounds and even some Nintendo retrospection Mr. Upton has once again demonstrated his abilities behind the synthesizer and drum machine.
Cities In Flight is available on Central Processing Unit.
