“Beneath” may be an appropriate word to describe UK producer Ben Walker’s under-the-radar career so far — a necessary status for anyone who’s only just formally started releasing music — OR, it may be a subtle allusion to a previous life as a member of the Mole People. Barely noticeable to the discerning ear, my excursions on the DC underground were sometimes soundtracked by faint rhythmic thumps reminiscent of non-bastardized dubstep. Turns out the city hadn’t decided to stylize the robotic announcers warning us to “please stand clear of the door;” it was coming from somewhere deeper — somewhere farther as well. Excuse my lack of expertise on the subject, but I have reason to suspect that the tunes of Beneath had been traveling via unmapped sewer systems all the way across the Atlantic.
What an unfulfilling life it must’ve been! Thank goodness he’s decided to increase his sun exposure (well, as much as one can in the UK) with a few singles on Tectonic and his own No Symbols label, and mixes for both FACT and Resident Advisor. Making surgical use of sunblock, he now has an EP on the ever-distinct and envelope-pushing PAN, entitled Vobes and set for release May 8 in vinyl and digital formats. Listen to a track below, and don’t let the first minute or so fool you into thinking “simplicity.” Shades of Shackleton mixed with an electronic unorthodoxy undoubtedly foreshadow bigger things…
Vobes tracklisting:
01. Bored 2
02. Occupy
03. One Blings
04. Stress 1
• Beneath: https://soundcloud.com/beneath
• PAN: http://www.pan-act.com
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