- For a long time, Magicwire lurked in the shadow of its cofounder, Lone. It was only last year, with a string of rumpled house EPs, that the label began to sound distinct from the producer's bright nostalgia. But releases from Project Pablo, Bruce Trail and Gnork, with their languid grooves and easy melodies, were still friendly. EP.1, a collaboration from Mood Hut's Cloudface and Brooklyn producer Patricia, isn't so much. Both artists are known for muted, sleep-fuzzed house, and EP.1 showcases a sound so deep it's almost disconcerting.
The titles hint at the general effect. "Sliding Down The Avenue" and "Slow Descent" suggest falling, but pleasantly. The tracks—slow in tempo, dull in sound—seem to be in a state of decline, and not much bothered about it. On "Sliding Down The Avenue," burnished house chords and a muffled 303 lick waft over a hollow low-end reminiscent of Kassem Mosse. "Slow Descent" is angstier, its stiff bassline sending purls of dissonance bouncing into the dark space around it. Descent takes on another meaning on "Snowfall," whose melodies tumble like snowflakes over a gentle IDM beat. It's a moment of respite, but it doesn't last. On the closer, "Wind," the drums resume their deathly trudge, and minor-key chords moan like a distant gale in an empty landscape.
TracklistA1 Sliding Down The Avenue
A2 Snowfall
B1 Slow Descent
B2 Wind