Daniel Bemberger - Donaupark EP      (Sub-Static)

Usually associated with a more minimal and Dubby House / Techno sound, this time Sub_Static furnish our ears with some ultra-fine glitch / abstract House. I would have to say that this is definitely influenced by some of Farben’s more subtle cuts, but in a very pleasing way and still with many original ideas coming in from every angle. For starters, the production has a much, much warmer and raw feel that is not normally found on most laptop productions - and I have a feeling that this is because the production is not entirely plug-in based (which makes a change). The most outstanding of the three tracks here is definitely ‘Canadian’ that is based around a subtle, but yet solid kick drum, clipped hi-hat and some of the most gorgeous keys to grace such beats. The track evolves around some syncopated sonar like noises into static-enhanced and immaculately cut-up low, analogue sounding belches, highly transient pad lines, and many, many effects – truly fantastic, and has to be heard. ‘Boulevard’ continues with a similar ideology but goes into a quirkier House sound rather than infiltrate the deep territories of the last track. Solid beats with a large swing, and a deep, ribbing bass-line play host to subtle, Jazz-like keys and the kind of quirky analogue doings that at times remind me of producers like Luke Vibert. To round everything up ‘Donaupark’ takes the EP down a level of intensity and up a level of glitch based Jazz musicality thanks to a bass-guitar line and edits, and yet more gorgeous keys, but this time looped-up in a stop-start way – once again underpinned by solid beats and point-like percussion. Extremely soulful music that crosses many genres with much originality and class that is almost impossible to describe here, so I recommend you track down a copy or visit the labels web site to do it some real justice.

Reviewed by: Alex Io

Score: 5/5

Go to the Sub-Static website.