NEWS
EVENTS
Album of the month: Alix Perez - 'Chroma Chords'
Drum and Bass | Tuesday 14th May 2013 | Jenny
One of my most eagerly awaited releases of the year so far comes from Shogun Audio and Alix Depaux (otherwise known as Perez) in the form of his second album, ‘Chroma Chords.’
It’s been a while in the making – his eternally innovative debut collection ‘1984’ was released four years ago, and its wide-spread (and rightly deserved) attention undoubtedly cemented his status as one of the most exciting producers in drum and bass.
Drawing together Perez’ hip hop and soul influences comes this diverse sophomore work; full of remarkable collaborations from across the board. The opener ‘Crystals’ is a broken beat electronica track; immediately straying from any typical DnB restraints. ‘Broken Heart’ continues in this mellow yet futuristic theme, featuring some sensual synth input courtesy of Two Inch Punch.
Two of the tracks on this 15-song selection feature the sublime addition of vocalist D.Ablo, and they both happen to be personal highlights. The rippling bass line of ‘Playing Games’ and stunning chord sequences in ‘We Could Have Been’ both complement that distinctively smooth voice so well. The single ‘Annie’s Song’ is one of those tracks that embeds itself in your ears; it’s a down tempo delight and reminds me a little of James Blake’s exquisite ‘CMYK’, which can only be a good thing. Again experimenting with a soulful male sound, Perez has chosen well in Sam Wills. Having caught his live performance at the album showcase at Shogun last month, I can confirm it was as clear-cut and subtly entrancing in a warehouse as it is on this album – ‘The End of Us’ stood out in particular.
Both the title track and ‘YDK’ stick to a drowsy, experimental vibes whist on the other side of the spectrum there is a treat in store with ‘Burn Out’ – a growling and murky sound, thanks to the addition of Phace and Misanthrop. I’m a huge fan of ‘Monolith’ which features both Foreign Beggars and Jehst (again killing it with their live performance) and the bubbling monster ‘Blueprint’ ft. Metropolis. With appearances from They Call Me Raptor, Strange U and Riko Dan completing the gritty, urban side of the album – it is definitely not one that can be easily classified. Simply by delivering something this diverse and interpretive (each play brings new attention to detail), Alix Perez has crafted something which yet again keeps his fans guessing – a certified technical gem.
Alix has also just recorded his ground-breaking Essential Mix for BBC Radio 1 - have a listen HERE.
