Review of 'Reeling Skullways' by Bass Clef

Artist: Bass Clef

Title: Reeling Skullways

Label: Punch Drunk Music, UK.

Format: CD/LP/Digital

Release: 30.04.12                          

Bass Clef (Ralph Cumbers) brings us a varied journey through the sounds of jacking analogue techno and melodic ambience with this release. It was a pleasant surprise for me as I’ve not heard much of this artist before and, whilst being reminiscent of lots of things, has a fairly individual style. It causes the kind of analogue hypnosis I always enjoy from the less full on side of techno. It is a release that techno lovers and acid and analogue lovers can certainly find something to fulfil their needs. It certainly has an insistent beat to it and is seemingly devoid of samples. Bass Clef gives us a consistent jacking funk combined with a mellow ambience, peppered with some great acid lines and analogue dirt. The album is a good builder and definitely speaks to the techno head within me.

                        

The release opens with a synthy, ambient intro track and then goes straight into the second track that consists initially of a bare beat, giving us a taste of things to come. The track “Hackney-Chicago-Jupiter” is very aptly named, it has a really jacking Chicago acid sound, somewhere in between acid house and analogue techno. There are harsh snare hits interspersed with floating synths at points, there is nothing gradual about the sounds, they hit you with a jack that moves your body. The record continues to build up to “Stenaline Metranil Solar Flare” (great names on this release), where there is a very well placed synth and slow broken beat interlude that provides a good contrast to the build up so far. It then returns to a slightly less intense jack and “A Rail is a Road and a Road is a River” takes the meandering feel of the record to its fullest extent. It’ll be a little over long for some listeners, although if you persevere you will be rewarded with some lush sonic landscapes. “Ghost Kicks the Spiral” is one of my favourites as it provides a really unique sound. It has a melodious ambience and is imbued with a real mournfulness, it also contrasts effectively with this generally jacking release.

                     

The sound of Bass Clef is perhaps not the most original, but it does what it does very well, it’s very well put together record whose contrasts work really well. The most interesting tracks are certainly the more ambient ones and I found them very emotive at times. It is a solid and well made release, although it doesn’t break too many boundaries. It is a very good listen if you enjoy analogue explorations, a bit of melodious ambience and some jacking funk, too. 

Originally written for Now Then Magazine:

http://nowthenmagazine.com/