With his influences ranging from Warp's IDM pioneers to the more cerebral roots of jungle, Manchester's Joe McBride has been blurring the boundaries of bass music and electronica since 2007. As Synkro he's worked to a rampant release schedule via labels such as Smokin' Sessions, Box Clever, Auxiliary and Exit. Following on from the Broken Promise four-tracker last April, McBride returns with his second EP for R&S's ambient-focused sub-label, Apollo.
Comprising eight productions, Acceptance finds the Mancunian almost blending the Autonomic sound with the plaintive electronica pioneered by the likes of Metamatics, Xela and Lusine in the wake of the late '90s IDM movement. Largely this organic-sounding formula works, with the sheer depth of the EP's warmth its most striking feature. On the less positive side, an overly poignant spoken word sample gives the title track a dated and slightly commercial feel, while a guitar-led collaboration with Apollo's Liam Blackburn, AKA Indigo, could have been left out. Minor sticking points aside, Acceptance is a well-structured and texturally rich EP that should be tracked down by advocates of Boards of Canada's more pastoral output.
