- Mallard's debut release suggests that his ears are attuned to the times. Bits of Verte are about as close as the Rhythm Section label has come to lo-fi house, that scuffed sound thriving on labels like Lobster Theremin. The opener, "Aquitaine (606 Lake Mix)," is a skilful riff on the style, with the requisite rumpled drums, blissful pads and e-choir flourishes for a touch of retro irony. The closer, "Verte," also hovers in this zone, its nonchalant swing slathered in the hiss of sampled rainfall. In spite of careful variation in the arrangement, the track's seven-and-a-half minutes feel excessive.
"Marco's Mango" is on firmer Peckham ground, as its heavy-lidded chords and jazzy bassline cleave closer to Rhythm Section's usual soulful style. (Mallard is a jazz double bass student at a music college in South London, though he resists the temptation to show off his chops here.) Elsewhere, the music's friendly surface belies cleverer explorations of rhythm. "Untitled (Breaks)" features some deft breakbeat choppage, over which chords shower like gentle paint bombs. Most striking of all, "Surface" plays with polyrhythm, pivoting between 3/4 time at 90 BPM and 4/4 triplet time in the 120s. Mallard's weathered drums linger in the grey zone, keeping you guessing for the full six minutes.
TracklistA1 Aquitaine (606 Lake Mix)
A2 Surface
A3 Marco's Mango
B1 Untitled (Breaks)
B2 Verte