Numbers is highly recommended for folks looking for something in either the techno, acid, industrial and ambient realms or perhaps for something that goes whump in the night.
Numbers by Northern California-based Exillon (aka Jay Fields) pulls no punches by starting off straight into it with a solid ambient bass arpeggio. His deft manipulations of a little reverb and a little echo set a nice bed for lush pads that follow.
“107” enters the ears with a bit more punch and aggressive bite to it, letting us know this isn’t a loping ambient journey we’re on; thudding 808 kick and hats continue the transmission of the message as we move into an almost Caribbean rhythm that evolves the piece into a solid cold, acidic number. “81” reminds me, for a brief moment, of Amber-era Autechre before working some nice sharp edges into the track. Snares panned hard right and claves panned hard left are the only percussive elements until the kick arrives—it’s not an easy mix to balance but Exillon does it rather well, evoking a dark moody track. “122” buries its roots deep in acid house territory with slight tweaks to formula, giving this nice 4×4 banger a modern edge without showing its age. Which is great but then right around the four minute mark the scene changes to one of icy pads, and muted drums only to round back to its original themes at around minute seven. “103” could be a demo of Kratfwerk’s attempt at acid house if only they were so adventurous; a 303 style bass and sharp zap over drums in this slow tempo propels the track through some nice variations on scenery. “127” is the album’s dark closer, with digital timbres drenched in reverb and delay—it’s a long style exercise in dark ambience that provides a good listen on a cold winter’s night.
Numbers is highly recommended for folks looking for something in either the techno, acid, industrial and ambient realms or perhaps for something that goes whump in the night.
Numbers is available on Katabatik.
