- Sophie Sweetland is one of the more distinctive artists to emerge from Vancouver's thriving scene. Her output is varied and recognizable, using crafty hand percussion and crude breaks with a dusty sound palette. Blue Dream, the first solo EP on Pacific Rhythm, is her most vibrant record yet, charming with oddball rhythms and curious samples. Tracks like "Get Back To You Soon," which utilises hip-hop-style breaks, and "Something About You," where dense hand percussion sounds like slowed-down jungle, are loaded with subtle effects and modest synth leads that burrow into your head. Take the title track's faded melodies and exaggerated bassline. It's a piece of laid-back, bass-heavy Vancouver house, but Sweetland's windswept bongos add a tinge of psychedelia.
"How RU Plush" best captures Sweetland's evocative qualities. Stoned and propulsive, it works the '90s synths of her DJ Zozi project in with rollicking percussion, all while Regularfantasy, another Vancouver artist on the rise, deadpans phrases like "I'm tryna dance," "I'm good" and "How are you?" It's the kind of track you either fall in love with or find frustrating, but like most of what Sweetland produces and DJs, it's bound to leave an impression.
TracklistA1 Get Back To You Soon
A2 Blue Dream
B1 How RU Plush feat. Regularfantasy
B2 Something About You