01st December 11
PRE-ORDER: VVV – Across The Sea [Fortified Audio]
Despite having just a couple of physical releases (two atmospheric woodblock-heavy 2-steppers on Tube10 and some deeply immersive garage on The Projects EP for Glasgow’s Fortified label), VVV has left quite a mark on bass music followers with a penchant for thoughtful 2-step. Born in Tehran and living in Texas, Shawhin Izaddoost has been remarkably prolific and consistent as VVV, with numerous untitled dubs appearing as the highlights of online mixes and a Soundcloud account that changes shape every few weeks. His tendency to upload tunes (often haunting, always engrossing) that so frequently disappear and re-appear beyond prediction is often translated into his uniquely transient production style. Synths, vocals and basslines fade seamlessly in and out of the mix, creating a sense of flow and dynamism that set him far apart from your average dance music producer. With so many tunes, an LP seemed due a long time ago, but with all those re-ups hinting towards a perfectionist approach to beat-making, it should come as no surprise that his (and Fortified’s) debut LP contains some of VVV’s most inspired and accomplished work to date.
Aptly titled Across the Sea, this album sees the Austin producer borrowing from some of the UK’s darkest dance music mannerisms, twisting them into twelve fluent bass-wanderers. Though the drum patterns are mostly driven by his distinctive skippy, skittering 2-step (with the occasional UK funky bounce thrown in on tracks like ‘Falling Low’), we see influences from grimey eski-bass on ‘Under Control’, dystopian melodies of 80s cyberpunk electronica on ‘Retreated’ and even uplifting piano rave on ‘Aisle Seat’ and ‘All That We’ve Been Through’. Shawhin lays out the kaleidoscopic elements of bass music under a melancholic filter on ‘Across The Sea’, with ethereal vocal samples, harsh bass and skewed synths maintaining that aforementioned flow and lucidity that’s been a highlight of his work.
It can be argued that this feat of encapsulating bass music’s offshoots within a coherent artistic vision has indeed been accomplished already this year (with Sully’s ‘Carrier’ and Damu’s ‘Unity’ being the most exceptional examples that come to mind), but when it’s executed with such obvious passion and sincerity, like Across The Sea is, it will be among those that listeners will revisit with the same appreciation and relish.
Words: Joe Moynihan // Out: 5th December 2011
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VVV was also kind enough to give us an exclusive download of an unreleased track of his called ‘Searchlight’ in anticipation of Across The Sea’s impending release…
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DOWNLOAD: VVV – Searchlight (via Sendspace)
nice one VVV! The sendspace link is broken.