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Concord Dawn delivers acid drenched carnage with Gumshoe
Drum and Bass | Wednesday 8th April 2015 | Matt
Concord Dawn has been featured on Guestlist before, back in December when we covered his stunning EP Fuzz. At the time we praised his inventive, harder-faster approach to drum and bass, a genre that has over the last few years become increasingly sanitised and tame. The combination of squelchy, distorted basslines beneath the occasional soft and soulful vocal line made Fuzz an exceptional listen, and one of our favourite DnB releases of 2014.
When we heard that his follow up EP Gumshoe would be released this month, and would feature more of the acid techno influences that had made his music such a breath of fresh air, we were understandably excited. However we weren't quite prepared for how much of the acid has seeped through. Opening track 'Colourless' begins with an almost ambient atmosphere, before breaking into a starkly minimal DnB beat. The bass shudders in an immense, rolling build up before the hi-hats kick in and the track gets a little more brutal, however not quite scaling the immense heights of aggression felt on Fuzz. This was a surprise, as Concord Dawn has been known since 1999 for having some of the thickest, darkest bass in the business. Despite this, track one is a certified banger, and one that makes even more sense when you listen to the rest of the EP.
The second track, another slightly minimal one, is called 'Reverse', and is a collaboration with Need For Mirrors. The intensity is ramped up a little on this one, but the trademark bass-in-your-face sound is also less prevalent than on Fuzz. This is not necessarily a bad thing – the clarity in the mix allows for Concord's production talents to shine really nicely, with a neurofunk-esque sense of implied darkness rather than out-and-out carnage. All in all, so far this EP is a more mature and developed affair than Concord's previous efforts, but still has enough angst to keep hardcore fans happy and to ensure Concord Dawn tunes keep dancefloors pumping.
Once again, the third track features an acidic influence, but with more of that classic bass than the previous two. Titled 'Gum Shoe', this track is a six minute odyssey of rumbling, heavy bass and atmospheric, old school acid synths. Don't let the more mature approach fool you - this is classic Concord Dawn, full of dark angst and heavy bass, and the title track is where these old school elements make a welcome return. The light and shade introduced on this EP is a major selling point, and makes the trademark intensity typical of Concord's previous work more purposeful and dynamic.
The brutality reaches it's apex on 'Zipper Ripper', the EP's final track and my personal favourite. Everything that makes Concord Dawn such a brilliant producer is there in spades, only this time it's soaked in the glory days of acid techno. Think Chris or Julian Liberator mashed up with Mickey Finn, but significantly beefed up, and you get the general idea. The second half of the track even features some rolling psy-trance influenced synths – not something you would typically associate with drum and bass.
All in all, this EP has all the hallmarks of greatness from an artist who's already proved his worth in the DnB arena. Gumshoe has shown Concord Dawn's willingness to explore in a genre that traditionally doesn't have much room for exploration, and carries it off very well indeed. The techno influences fit the sound brilliantly, but this is more than just someone trying out new ideas. Gumshoe sees a veteran of the scene shake up his established sound by taking calculated risks, enabling him to grow in a genre where others might flounder after a few successful releases.
There's always a danger that die hard fans might not appreciate it when an artist tries to forge a new direction, but I can't see anyone disliking this album. Yes, it does have moments where the aggression found on previous releases is noticeably absent, but this is a symptom of Concord developing and refining his sound. The result is a far more sophisticated and menacing experience during the calms, and a newly found sense of purpose when the storm hits, and believe me, it DOES hit you.
Follow Concord Dawn on Twitter.
Stream the Gum Shoe EP below:
