XTLP

In stark contrast to a large percentage of his previous work, XTLP is joyous all the way through. The twelve compositions abandon the furrow-browed quest for cutting-edge exploration exchanging it for an altogether more carefree & fun approach, with only the footwork-influenced 'Monj2' and exclusive track ‘Forger’ directly referencing any current electronic influences. Opening with the gorgeous 'XT'; a smudged piano/moog melody recalls the abandon of 70s pop melodies before the composition falls out into airy arpeggiated funk with splashy drums. 'Ritm' debuts with ravey piano and whistling synths, condensing early dance music tropes into a gauzy bitter-sweet haze. 'Smeester's gentle metallic melodies give way to a menacing hip hop style bass and drums, and chords that drift and decay. 'Pulsar' is a perfect interpretation / tribute to late 70s electronic cosmic space-disco, gently nudged towards more modern dancefloors with pulsing electronics racing above robust kicks / claps. After the aforementioned Monj2, comes 'New Bimple' which succinctly uses a short space of time, woody, swinging 2-step drums and downcast piano melody, to bring the album’s halfway point to a sadder, unresolved note. 'PRG' is beatless, full of gentle whispy coiling melodies through a distorted lens. 'Tambor' rolls slowly on metallic percussion, a sad melodic figure that repeats into despair, as the album finishes with closer 'Blem' which mixes trappy snares and twilight atmosphere with big melodic brushstrokes that remind one of John Foxx. If one thing unites the approaches here it's a new-found sense of emotion transformed into sound with the skill of a truly seasoned innovator and soldier. Welcome back µ-Ziq!

Chewed Corners, µ-Ziq's 2013 full-length and his first in six years, found Mike Paradinas diverting from the sound he'd established in the mid-'90s, doing away with aggressive, intensely edited breakbeats and moving toward something more reminiscent of the early days of techno and IDM, while still keeping an ear to more recent developments in electronic music.