- There's long been a ghostly feel to Eddie "C" Currelly's loop-based productions, a euphoric quality that merged the pathos and joy of his disco, funk and soul samples with a laid-back attitude. Since his first singles in '09, the Canadian artist has sought out dreamy jubilance, but over the years he's left the glitterball bounce for a more hypnotic drift. With On The Shore, Currelly's third album for Endless Flight, his laid-back groovers are more muted than ever.
Currelly's move towards an increasingly subtle style largely pays off. The acidic bubbles of "Beyond Reality" percolate through undulating synths. There's not much to it beyond the track's understated low-end and occasional whisper—nor does there need to be. Likewise, "Fenyek" pairs a classic Hammond organ sample with a stately bassline, as sparkling keys and a dash of dub effects add accents. That's all Currelly needs to work his magic.
Sometimes, though, the sparseness goes too far. The ironically titled "Klutter" feels somewhat inert, with little more than a stripped-down bass throb and organ pulse adding propulsion to its slow march. When the lush Rhodes and reggae-tinged guitar roll in halfway through "Low Road Dubs," it feels like too little too late. These songs are never less than pleasant, but some feel more like sketches than fleshed-out tunes.
When everything clicks, the music is quietly rapturous. "On The Road," all creamy chords, jazzy guitar and busted snares, evokes a lost trip-hop track circa '93. "Auf Der Ufer," produced with Rune Lindbaek, is one of the album's most opulent songs, with a shimmering piano that flutters among rich strings and spiraling effects. Perhaps best of all is "Boipeba Praia," which boasts a simple house rhythm, a bit of hand percussion, gentle washes of ambience and a little tropical guitar, each facet perfectly positioned. A gem of a track, it encapsulates Currelly's subdued production style, which hits more often than it misses.
Tracklist01. Fenyek
02. Low Road Dubs
03. Klutter
04. Wish You Were Here
05. Beyond Reality
06. Mistaya
07. Auf Der Ufer feat. Rune Lindbaek
08. Boipeba Praia
09. Now More Than Ever
10. Take Me (Extended Mareh Vacation Mix)
11. On The Road
12. Auf Der Panke