JT Stewart’s Ophelia is a complex EP that blurs the borders of not only House and Techno, but of floor and headphone. With so much blatant replication dominating new releases it’s refreshing to see both label and artist testing the boundaries.
[Releases page] Electronics in the US seems to run at two speeds. There are those with big gaudy sounds and egos to match. Then there are those with a much more humble disposition. These latter beings release infrequently but have a genuine passion for the music. JT Stewart, aka $tinkworx, is emblematic of this small to medium entity. From releases on the likes of Bunker and to running his own label, Stewart has been a stalwart of real analogue sounds inspired by Chicago and Detroit. Greece’s Echovolt have drafted JT Stewart for a 12” EP, Ophelia.
“Vandaleur” opens with a steady pulsing snare. Darkness descends as Stewart wraps eclipsed chords around pads. The track toes the lines of House and Techno, rumbling with machine interference to add to its wicked ways. “Forgotten Hauler” is a slow burner, developing before Stewart drops a full blooded beat. Electrified acid lines burble and tense amongst strong bars in this weighty and soulful piece. The title track occupies the B-Side for the close. Piano keys snake through beats and bass in this 90s influenced piece—a clever, powerful and well executed work of electronics.
With each release Echovolt is solidifying its position as a quality imprint. JT Stewart’s Ophelia is a complex EP that blurs the borders of not only House and Techno, but of floor and headphone. With so much blatant replication dominating new releases it’s refreshing to see both label and artist testing the boundaries.
Ophelia is available on Echovolt. [Releases page]
