Rather than an outright explosion of fervor, Leonid ponders before adding the next shade to his sound—methodically he constructs, positioning accompaniments before the true form is submitted to the listener.
Despite being a Dutch imprint, Photic Fields seems to have a predilection for the Emerald Isle. After an excellent outing from Automatic Tasty Photic Fields have drafted in Waterford born Paul Smith aka Leonid. Smith, a denizen of Madrid, has released on labels such as Patrice Scott’s Sistrum, but the Irish artist has been quiet of late. Leonid breaks the silence with three tracks for his Midas EP.
“67 Jam ” introduces Smith’s return to vinyl. The track slowly builds as discrete chords and drums patterns are skilfully layered atop one another. The result is a complex piece of electronics, a track which adopts elements of late night Chicago and melds them with early Techno echoes. Acidic currents open “SD2”. A burbling body of analogue headiness ensues. Beats align with floor traditions but the melodies are allowed float into beyond. Subtle strings pervade the piece, warming chords framing this cerebral and intricate work. “Random Wave” closes. Keys echo onto themselves, collapsing back to their source. There are House moments includes in this curtain fall, Smith utilizing some of the structures to create a vivid finale.
Funnily enough I ran into Leonid a few months back and have been lucky enough to know him. The Irish man’s passion for electronics is only surpassed by ability to create it. This three tracker is emblematic of his skill behind the machines. Across the EP there is a tapered emotion. Rather than an outright explosion of fervor, Leonid ponders before adding the next shade to his sound—methodically he constructs, positioning accompaniments before the true form is submitted to the listener. An accomplished return to vinyl from the Waterford man, and hopefully a sign of things to come.
Midas is available on Photic Fields. [Releases page]
