- Releasing blazing old-school jungle and nimble drum choppage for some of the UK's most exciting labels, Zak Brashill is a promising protégé in a long line of beat science senseis. His old-school approach makes his style, which is rooted in a pre-dubstep tradition, stand out. The Brighton artist's new Altered Roads label provides an avenue to explore his sound without the weight of context or expectation. The first release is a strong statement of purpose.
You can tell things are different by how Altered Roads Vol. 1 starts. "When The Soul Departs The Body" is three minutes of gaseous atmospherics, where Brashill's drums feel like a distant memory. Its ghostly vocals and rising bassline suggest a jungle tune, but it's all an illusion, like Lee Gamble's Diversions with extra bassweight. The drum rolls in "Lore Of Samurai," where Etch cuts up jazzy breaks, and "Flamingo Grove" hint at a common ground between Goldie and Raime. "Defunkt Logic" ends the EP as it started. A boom-bap hip-hop track made from jagged pieces of scrap metal, it's a respite after the previous rollercoaster ride. Like the rest of the EP, Brashill pulls it off with finesse, making old-school exercises sound fresh and, most importantly, heavy as hell.
TracklistA1 When The Soul Departs The Body
A2 Lore Of Samurai
B1 Flamingo Grove
B2 Defunkt Logic