• Basket
  • Music Jobs
  • Login / Register
  • Login
  • Register
Resident Advisor
×
Search
Submit
Did you mean
×
  • Resident Advisor
  • Magazine
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Features
    • Videos
  • Listings
    • Events
    • Clubs
    • Festivals
    • Photos
  • Music
    • Artists
    • New Tracks
    • DJ Charts
    • Podcasts
  • Search
  • Reviews
  • /
  • Singles

Neville Watson - Hot & Heavy

    • Label /
      Don't Be Afraid
      SPE002
    • Released /
      November 2013
    • Style /
      Techno, House
    • Comments /
      2 / View
    • Rating /
      3.0/5
    • Previous
    • Next
    Neville Watson - Hot & Heavy Neville Watson - Hot & Heavy
    Neville Watson - Hot & Heavy Neville Watson's debut album, released last year after a nigh-on two-decade career, felt more like a collection of singles than a long-player. It proved what we already knew—that Watson is superb at bucking house jams—but revealed that he's less adept at the nuances required for an album. His return to the shorter format, for the Special Editions offshoot of Semtek's Don't Be Afraid label, sees him back on firmer ground.

    The hallmarks of Watson's sound are front and centre throughout—the stomp and wiggle of Roland machines, loops pushed to breaking point, and synths that whine like foxes in heat. But there's also a layer of grit that makes Hot & Heavy seem dated, if not outright revivalist. Take "Crossing the I's," the EP's most rambunctious cut, which centres on an acid line burbling above a one-note sub. A tried and tested trope, sure, but Watson deconstructs it in the track's closing moments, and just prevents it from being too staid.

    "Wired" is more functional, its rolling drums lightened by a riff that doubles back on itself as though trying to lose a tail—this is loop techno delivered with a grin. In contrast, "Hot & Heavy" sits somewhere between Chez Damier and Mr G, with a clatter of bongos and a sticky low-end. Though executed with panache, Hot & Heavy ends up a little too safe to really wow.
    • Published /
      Fri / 10 Jan 2014
    • Words /
      Tom Banham
    • Share
    • Tracklist /
      A Crossing The I's
      B1 Wired
      B2 Hot & Heavy
    0/
  • Popular reviews

    • Post a comment

      Leon Vynehall - DJ-Kicks

    • Post a comment

      Adam Beyer - Teach Me (Amelie Lens Remixes)

    • Post a comment

      nd_baumecker - Panorama Bar 07

    • Post a comment

      Ossia - Devil's Dance

    • Post a comment

      DJ Sports - Akrasia

    • Post a comment

      Various - Kankyō Ongaku: Japanese Ambient, Environmental & New Age Music 1980-1990

    • 3 comments

      Various - Life & Death On The New York Dance Floor 1980-1983 Part I & II

    • Post a comment

      Sound Stream - Love Remedy

    0/
  • Comments loading

    0/ #257811
    • More on Don't Be Afraid

      Don't Be Afraid

      Founded in 2010, Don’t Be Afraid has organically evolved from it’s humble beginnings to become a vital and consistent outpost for underground techno, house and experimentally edged electronic music.
      View the full label profile

    • Reviews

      • 8 comments

        MGUN - Axiom

      • 7 comments

        rRoxymore - Thoughts Of An Introvert Pt. 2

      • 3 comments

        rRoxymore - Thoughts Of An Introvert Pt. 1

      • 1 comments

        The Room Below - Healing Scaphoids EP

      • 3 comments

        Achim Maerz - Experiments

      • 9 comments

        Karen Gwyer - Rembo

      • 9 comments

        Differ-Ent - It's Good To Be Differ-Ent

      • 2 comments

        rRoxymore - Organ Smith

      • 5 comments

        Karen Gwyer - Prophase Metaphase Anaphase Telophase

      • 11 comments

        Differ-Ent - M.O.M.

      • Post a comment

        Neville Watson - Night Of The Inflatable Muscle Heads EP

      • 7 comments

        DIFFER-Ent - DIFFER-Ent (by DJ Bone)

      • 2 comments

        Lily - Memory Jacket

      • 3 comments

        Doubt - Poor Dog

      • 2 comments

        Mr. G - Tutonic

      • 1 comments

        MGUN - Resin EP

      • 8 comments

        Farah - Metal Irene

      • 2 comments

        Kelpe - Monte Verità

      • 4 comments

        Disco Nihilist - Journey To The End Of The Night EP

      • 6 comments

        MGUN - If You're Reading This

      • 9 comments

        Mr. Beatnick - Savannah EP

      • 2 comments

        Alis - Azimuth EP

      • 10 comments

        Mr. Beatnick - Sun Goddess EP

      • 6 comments

        Semtek - Pizza

      • 3 comments

        Mr. Beatnick - Synthetes

    0/
  • More on Neville Watson

    • Neville Watson
      Follow

      Worldwide bookings [email protected]
      View the full artist profile

    Upcoming dates

    • Fri29/Mar 2019

      London

      I Love Acid with Neil Landstrumm Live, Mark Turner, Neville Watson, Placid, Posthuman

    News

    • Wed, 24 Oct 2018

      1 comments

      Neville Watson announces first album in five years, The Midnight Orchard

      The UK producer will release his second full-length on Don't Be Afraid.

    • Mon, 27 Feb 2017

      2 comments

      I Love Acid announces ten-year anniversary compilation

      Mike Dunn, Luke Vibert and Pye Corner Audio feature on the collection, which comes on a USB stick shaped like a TB-303 synthesizer.

    • Tue, 15 Nov 2016

      3 comments

      Legowelt, Shanti Celeste appear on new Craigie Knowes charity compilation

      Due out next month, all profits from the second edition will go to War Child.

    • Wed, 26 Oct 2016

      48 comments

      fabric announces 111-track fundraising compilation, #savefabric

      The huge package includes tunes from Mathew Jonson, Paula Temple, Ikonika, Shackleton and more.

    • Thu, 13 Aug 2015

      2 comments

      Move D and Bicep appear on charity compilation

      A new label called Craigie Knowes will drop a double-LP in October, with all profits going towards the War Child charity.

    • Tue, 16 Jun 2015

      1 comments

      Richie Hawtin announces ENTER.Ibiza2015 compilation

      The four-disc set features mixes from Dubfire, Heidi, TM404 and Hito.

    • Fri, 09 Jan 2015

      4 comments

      MCDE booked for Sub Club

      Lord Of The Isles, Neville Watson and Job Jobse will also play the Jamaica Street spot in January.

    • Mon, 24 Nov 2014

      7 comments

      Eats Everything readies Fries With That?

      Dan Pearce's first commercial mix is a two-disc affair coming out through Hypercolour in January.

    Reviews

    • Post a comment

      Neville Watson - Night Of The Inflatable Muscle Heads EP

    • 2 comments

      Neville Watson - Hot & Heavy

    • 1 comments

      Neville Watson - One Four Green EP

    • 2 comments

      Siafu - Slunk Dub

    • 39 comments

      Various Artists - Trax Re-Edited

    • 12 comments

      Various Artists - If This Is House I Want My Money Back

    • 3 comments

      Neville Watson - Bleeding Through

    0/
    • RA
    • Copyright © 2019 Resident Advisor Ltd.
    • All rights reserved
    • Privacy & Terms
    • Cookie Policy
    • Resident Advisor /
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Jobs
    • 24/7

    • RA Tickets /
    • My Tickets
    • Ticketing FAQ
    • Resale
    • Sell tickets on RA
    • Submit event

    • Apps /
    • RA Guide
    • RA Ticket Scanner
    • Elsewhere /
    • Watch on YouTube
    • Follow on Facebook
    • Listen on Apple Music
    • Stream on Spotify
  • RA is also available in Japanese. 日本版
    • RA on YouTube
    • RA on Facebook
    • RA on Twitter
    • RA on Instagram
    • RA on Soundcloud