J Chrysalis - A Kind Robin / Latent Space

  • Played by Ben UFO, these are two strong tracks by an emerging artist.
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  • The latest release from Blank Mind is a promising debut from a London artist named J Chrysalis, who, on this evidence, makes house music powered by stuttered rhythms. It seems that Ben UFO is a supporter, apparently playing the tracks on Rinse and recently inviting J Chrysalis onto the Hessle Audio show. It's easy to hear what drew him in. While the gently menacing atmosphere of "A Kind Robin" may feel familiar, the way it's delivered is novel—the kind of thing that's long excited Ben UFO and Hessle Audio, in other words. Synth parts that recall Carl Craig are layered over a chattering, rattling drum pattern, a combination that might find favour with more adventurous house DJs. Gqom seems to be the influence on "Latent Space." Chrysalis sets up one of those hypnotic, humid grooves that the South African style is built on and embellishes the drums with off-beat bird calls. The arrangement is a little more dynamic than lots of gqom, with a tense breakdown and laser synth blasts keeping the drama levels high. Followers of Blank Mind won't find a gqom-inspired track on the label a surprise. Although its output since 2011 has been sporadic, the London outlet, run by Sam Purcell, who makes music as Dance, has given a platform to regional dance styles like Grenadian jab jab, footwork, ghetto house and, with the release of AudioBoyz's Danger in 2016, gqom. This 11th release on Blank Mind folds in one of the label's key influences, presents two strong tracks and breaks a new artist, which seems like a pretty ideal outing.
  • Tracklist
      A A Kind Robin B Latent Space
RA