(01.10.07) Uchel001, apparently named after its catalogue number, is Luke Williams’ first release as the color-obsessed Quinoline Yellow on his own Uchelfa imprint. The EP follows a series of releases on the acclaimed Skam label (including a contribution to the Smak series), compilation tracks forthe dormant Pause_2 and now sadly defunct Neo Ouija labels. He has also made many live appearances for Skam at Deselect, Vector, Kraked, Version, Furthur and Wheels Instead of Hooves events as well as at WarpNesh parties and two All Tomorrows Parties festival appearances.
On the face of it, Williams’ sound is probably much as you might expect from an artist that has made several appearances on the Skam label inrecent years but there are also has some more enticing hidden qualities. Underpinning the glitchy metallic beats and clicks are swathes of flowing electronic texture which together provide interesting counterpoints. On one hand Williams’ music is frantic and ultra-modern but on the other it has a deeper more meditative side. Take for example the bassy glitchiness of “Cawl” and contrast that with the warm flowing qualities of the sub two minute “Horsforth Scabbard,” the latter being the most low-key and gentle of the tracks on the EP. Interestingly, even across the five tracks and just over 19 minutes of Uchel001, Williams manages to emphasize the glitchier and mellower sides of his music fairly equally, almost as though there is a subtle tactical battle to decide which will prevail – who wins any given battle depends on the track in question.
Although Williams may not be overly prolific with his release schedule, his output makes up for lack of quantity by keeping the quality at a suitably high level. Now that he has co-founded Uchelfa with associate Tom Balcombe and has hooked up with Warp Record’s award winning Bleep.com digital outlet, Williams has opened his own channel of distribution for his work and that of like-minded musicians whilst maintaining his links with the respected Skam Records label.
Uchel001 is out now on Uchelfa.
