- The Savannah EP concludes Mr. Beatnick's Synthetes trilogy, a series which has signalled the London producer's migration from hip-hop into well-schooled deep house. The first two installments, at their best, married adeptly selected samples with stylish synth work in a manner reminiscent of Moodymann or Andrés, but not excessively beholden to Detroit house. The title track to last year's Sun Goddess—a coasting, sun-dappled anthem that earned a place on the summer playlists of many—seems like a particularly tough act to follow.
He has a good stab at it, though, with these four tracks. "Symbiosis" cleaves closest to past glories, its delicate string samples and blissful slow-mo chug recalling "Synthetes," though the execution is more languid. "Blue Dream," with its measured broken-beat pulse and airy synth chords, is similarly whimsical. Elsewhere, things get more energetic. The title track is comparatively brisk for Beatnick, its tightly coiled swing almost conveying a note of anxiety, though the execution is playful rather than portentous. Finally, "Parallax Scroll" takes things harder, drawing UK hardcore into the fold with ravey pads and sliced breakbeats. As always, though, Beatnick avoids direct impact in favour of a subtle, multi-layered arrangement that conceals surprising detail in its depths.
Tracklist A1 Savannah
A2 Symbiosis
B1 Parallax Scroll
B2 Blue Dream