On Passing Signals, the Newcastle based musician’s ability to craft rich and textured works using contrasting and sparse sounds is plain to hear. A top record from an artist who is rightly being noticed and will only continue to be so.
Blending caustic elements with smoother sounds
Sitting in London this August, I had the joy (or pain) of the old axiom of the English capital: “Ya wait twenty minutes for de bus and two come at once.” It could have been the rolling strikes affecting the UK, or my lack of geographical knowledge of the city. The saying holds sway for one of Britain’s most exciting electronic musicians. Daniel Pringle, aka The Jaffa Kid, spent years producing music in the digital shadows. Now he is enjoying some well-earned vinyl attention, Passing Signals coming hot on the heals of releases for 030303, Cold Blow and Gated.
“Olyqu” comes to life with a steady kick giving rise to crests of gentle chords. Countering these silken sounds is the guttural growl of an angry acid line that buttresses the piece with a coarse contrast. Warm pads and crisp rhythms welcome “Lef.” Strings arc overhead as a wonderfully stripped back and deep piece of electronics unveils itself. Pringle looks for opportunities to create disparity in his tracks, blending rougher and less refined tones with their opposites. This is plain to hear in “Globbi,” a plodding filtered percussion pushing forward to nourishing harmonies. “Renumb” is a good example of the composition explored on the album. Tracks are given time to develop and mature, complementary shades juxtaposed by harsher hues to bring balance and draw the listener in. Throughout, melodies have a bright optimism. “Exa,” which opens the flips, brims with an early innocence with the sounds selected radiate despite their fragility. A more autumnal shade enters with the looming lines, an even thump and acid undercurrents of “Xom.” “Octaxonagonn” closes. Soulful strings, 303 bulges and broken beats combining for a finale that is at once bawdy and bouncy while being tender and understated.
It’s no secret that Jason Amm, aka Solvent and Suction boss, is a lover of all things Rephlex. It’s also no surprise that The Jaffa Kid has found his way on to the Canadian label. With a skill for blending caustic elements with smoother sounds, Pringle is carrying on a sound that was crystallized in Cornwall. On Passing Signals, the Newcastle based musician’s ability to craft rich and textured works using contrasting and sparse sounds is plain to hear. A top record from an artist who is rightly being noticed and will only continue to be so.
Passing Signals is available on Suction. [Bandcamp | Site]
