Coop: Don't Sweat It / To Fork An Outlet
none60
New to the none60 camp, Coop adds a formidable two-tracker to the label's discography. A drum'n'bass producer and DJ hailing from Denmark, Anders Nebeling brings a lot to the table: coming from a family of classical musicians, he brings bass-playing and drumming skills and lessons learned from Humanature, ZeroZero, and others to his Coop productions, which have evolved rapidly. Though associated with drum'n'bass, the work he's done extends into multiple areas, the diverse tracks on this release a perfect illustration.
Consider, for example, how artfully “Don't Sweat It” develops through multiple stages. Atmospherically setting the mood, Nebeling introduces the piece with delicate synth pads before folding in percussive elements, a minimal two-step pattern, and assorted keyboard details for extra colour. Echo effects and subtle build-ups figure into the episodic design, the track eventually coalescing into a luscious production that while aggressive enough is soothing also, the vibe closer to dreamy liquid than hellacious raver.
One might expect “To Fork an Outlet” to be harder-hitting with “Don't Sweat It” as its partner, and the expectation's largely met. Darker in tone, “To Fork an Outlet” swerves into position via a low-pitched swarm, after which it swells into a serious mind-bender spattered with all manner of glitchy effects and trippy flourishes. Darker it is, but it's no less artful than its sibling, Nebeling again showing himself to be a sound crafter of imagination and skill. Don't be surprised if words like understatement and sophistication come to mind as these classy productions play.February 2020