Warmer Squares is not, however, solely reliant on resurfacing rave tropes from a previous party generation—more so it throws a current day take around what made certain aspects dance music so enjoyable; melodies, chord progressions, pure waveforms and the eclectic mash up of soul, electronic, funk and breakbeat influences.
Scarper finally delivers a debut long player after a series of EP releases that have won over fans such as DJ Food and Laurent Garnier. Earlier this year we noted his last EP as a delightfully quirky romp through that side of electronic music that sports a cheeky grin and dances wildly rather than stands in a corner with a contemplative beard stroke. For fans of the cheeky grin, we are pleased to say Warmer Squares continues in a similar excellent vein.
There are distinct nods to classic UK rave-era throughout—a time when the bleep reigned supreme as a prime lead melody sound. There’s even a track called “Bleepathon” where the triangular wave little fellers cascade from all angles, glinting with the hazy glow of post rave dawn in a field. On “The Drift” we also find Larry Heard-esque bass underpinning an epic Orbital style ethereal vocal workout accompanied with more of those friendly bleepy characters.
Warmer Squares is not, however, solely reliant on resurfacing rave tropes from a previous party generation—more so it throws a current day take around what made certain aspects dance music so enjoyable; melodies, chord progressions, pure waveforms and the eclectic mash up of soul, electronic, funk and breakbeat influences. Alongside all this are some resplendent home listening pieces such as “Green Song” which nestles a selection of glistening synths among ace laid back hip hop beats. Full marks for including the word “Munk” in a song title too—a track which sees cut up acid lines and vocals splattered across further shimmering melodies. Meanwhile, “Hot Potatoes” picks up with a Radioactive Man style electro bounce, whilst “Jitterbug Acid” floats Orbital “Belfast”-era arpeggiation across breaks framed with one of the most positively grin inducing 303 lines you’ll hear this year.
Lovely positive electronic music providing much needed cathartic mind relief during these strangest of times.
Warmer Squares is available on Plexus.
