Out of the Blue :: Early Hours (Nottetempo)

No-one liked the term “intelligent” when it first applied to dance music. Early Hours is clever, considered and chartering new grounds, where the “intelligent” ones left off.

Watery flourishes and uncertain movements

Nottetempo opened its doors in 2020 with a record that celebrated braindance and electronica, what can often be heard as disparate styles. Late Hours by Out of the Blue broke beats while expanding melodies, noodled acid lines were kept to a minimum with a solid nod going to ambient techno. It’s a cracking release. 2023 sees Out of the Blue return from hiding with what sounds like a sequel, Early Hours.

Watery flourishes and uncertain movements introduce the opening piece, “Key Variation 1.” Chords cascade before a skittish drums spin their way into the fold. The echoes of Early Hours are present, melodic avenues open and expand before new routes are explored. Yet, this is not just experimentation. Everything is controlled with a sound palette that is rich and textured. Modular bleep arcs to scrambled snares for “Slidin’ Smoothly.” Bulbous bass bubbles into globules of 303 flecked scratch, a playful churlish key change adding energy to this uncluttered piece. “Dokkaebi” introduces the flip. Like its predecessors, beats are not leaned on. An important component of course, Out of the Blue refuses to spray percussion and uses the arsenal of his drum machine to support rather than to drive his tracks. “Dokkaebi” blends a strain of electrofunk with distant acid and reverb to produce a strangely entrancing track. It is for the finale that rhythm patterns are given a little more muscle. “Seeking for Another Tempo” increases BPM’s, but keeps them in check with calm and soothing pads. That electrofunk line persists as a spread of styles intersect and a sharp braindance closer take shape.

Nottetempo is quietly building itself into a label of repute. It is heavily influenced by the sounds of the 90s, the jungle and rave drum patterns, and the 2000s with glitch and electronica. Yet, this is do to the label an injustice. It is more than these mere influences. It has taken them and made something new. From the frenetic emotions of Kreggo, the silken sounds of Arch and breadth of The Jaffa Kid, this Italian imprint deserves attention. This latest from Out of the Blue adds only more to their credentials. No-one liked the term “intelligent” when it first applied to dance music. Early Hours is clever, considered and chartering new grounds, where the “intelligent” ones left off.

Early Hours is available on Nottetempo. [Bandcamp]