- Idle Hands' latest release is the debut 12-inch from Christian Jay, a Berlin-based British producer whose previous tracks have appeared on Banoffee Pies compilations. "Contrail" is classy, low-slung house that stays faithful to Jay's Southwest roots, pairing dubwise Bristolian bass weight with a neat, minimal-leaning sound. Idle Hands records often have a sense of nostalgia without losing sight of contemporary currents, and indeed, Jay's tracks also recall the alien garage of Kowton's "She Don't Jack" from 2011.
"Contrail" is a tidy DJ tool, but it's not emotionless. Twisted jazz samples accompanied by what sounds like a filtered bass guitar provide an open soundscape for the sharp drum loops to tumble through, as warm, woozy pads are joined by slick vocal cuts. Though it's a touch mellower, "117" still has a purposeful groove, with heavy but crafty use of soul-drenched samples. Contorted snippets of Idris Muhammad's "Piece Of Mind" float through the chimes, trippy drum fills and staggering snares. It's an alluring descent into a lush, moody pool of breaks and sub-frequencies, one that would do as well in a warm-up set as in the early morning hours.
TracklistA Contrail
B 117