SBTRKT – SBTRKT

For anyone who found James Blake slightly too alienating, SBTRKT is for you. As a producer, the enigmatic Englishman has no faults. Innovation and imagination are rife amongst the tasteful synthetic grooves on his self titled debut, but never does he let go of that indelible phatness that could swing the collarbones of a Cranbrook P&C meeting. Sanctuary and Ready Set Loop take a leaf out of Flying Lotus’ book, but SBTRKT reigns in the glitchy mind-warp element to the point where listeners can relax on the grooves and textures without feeling obliged to realise how clever the producer is. Wildfire, featuring the infallible Yukimi Nagano of Sweden’s Little Dragon, is the standout; the sweet bluesy push of Nagano’s voice against the seemingly simple squelchy trip hop makes for the kind of track that upon first hearing feels like one you’ve known and loved for years. Some subtle live orchestration at the back end of the record on Never Never compliments the husky R’n’B crooning of fellow South Londoner Sampha, who lends his vocals to the majority of the tunes. “Post-dubstep”, “witch-house”, whatever wankery you want to label him with, SBTRKT is headed for a glory that transcends the blogoshpere – let’s hope he can keep his mask on.

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