textura

Albums
Cory Allen
Belong
Bio / Larkian / Autistes
Black Swan
James Brewster
C.H. District
Crazy Penis
Robert Crouch
Demdike Stare
d'incise
Cezary Gapik
Ron Geesin
G. Night & G. Morning
Tim Hecker
Hole Punch Generation
Hopeless Local M. Band
E. De Jesus / Minus Pilots
Saito Koji
Kontakte
Little Fritter
MaCu
Sam Moss
Dustin O'Halloran
Olekranon
Örsten
Phillips / Hesse-Honegger
Pleq
Maceo Plex
Pietro Riparbelli
Salva
Shaula
Spartak
Daniel Steinberg
Colin Stetson
Subtle Lip Can
Tapage & Meander
Robert Scott Thompson
Ultralyd
Simon Whetham

Compilations / Mixes
DJ Bone
Pop Ambient 2011
Silence Was Warm Vol. 3
Superlongevity 5
v-p v-f is v-n
Werkschau

EPs
Benoit & Sergio
Mark Bradley
Eluvium
Encomiast
Ragle Gumm
Tevo Howard
Isnaj Dui
Clem Leek
Luv Jam
offthesky & Ten and Tracer
Sleeps In Oysters
Nobuto Suda
Totem Test
Morgan Zarate

Luv Jam: Mind Music EP
Electric Sheep

In the accompanying press info, Andrew Cole's Luv Jam EP, Mind Music, is referred to as deep house, but depending on one's definition of the label, characterizing it as such could be misleading in this case. If one associates the label with soulful vocalizing and rave-ready exuberance, then Mind Music is anything but deep house. If the term is interpreted more literally to mean immersive and hypnotic electronic dance music, then the deep house term definitely applies (even if Mind Music is as much dub-techno as anything else). Here and in the other four tracks, Cole, a resident DJ at We Love in Ibiza, strips the material to its atmospheric essence, and not a sound is out of place. He's in no hurry, either, as he quite contentedly lets the tracks unfold in leisurely manner, resulting in a generously timed thirty-seven-minute EP.

Following an introduction of synthetic swirls and exhalations, “Alyn” settles into a languorous dance groove powered by a tasteful dub bass line and wrapped in sensual synth pads. With claps added to its quietly insistent pulse, “Bryan” exudes a bit more uptempo energy without compromising on Luv Jam's restrained and sophisticated style. “Keyth” bolsters its downtempo house pulse and funky sub-bass patterns with whooshes, wind-ups, and snares. “Mykel” opts for old-school meditation with analog synth melodies and krautrock drum machine beats, while “Just For You” ups the intensity by underlaying its synth surges with a driving 4/4 pulse and bass pattern. With Luv Jam generally keeping the lights down low, Mind Music would appear to be more naturally geared for the chill-out room than the dance floor proper.

February 2011