The latest releases reviewed
BARRY LYNN
Balancing Lakes
Planet Mu
****
The Armagh producer's sublime
Glyphicalbum (as Boxcutter) was the toast of London's
dubstep scene last year, but the follow-up is a more diverse
collection. While some of it is based on Lynn's trademark
hyperactive, steely breakbeats, Planet Mu boss Mike Paradinas's
ferocious drill'n'bass is audible on the frenetic
Loving Dub, and Lynn raids his funk collection for the
Parliament-meets-Bukem hyper-speed groove of
Metric Cypher. The fusion of head-nodding hip-hop beats
with spacey techno melodies on
Early Reflectionshow that he's not afraid to sample his
heroes, while the dub reggae shanties of
Hayfever Dub, the ambience on
Fieldtripand the neo-classical strings of
Lattice Shimmerrepresent a welcome, understated
alternative. There's a danger that the high-octane tracks will
overshadow these subtle twists and turns, but dem's the breaks.
www.planetmu.com
RICHARD BROPHY
Download tracks:
Early Reflection, Hayfever Dub, Metric Cypher
