- An off-kilter blend of hip-hop, downtempo and drum & bass.
- Tim Parker is a classic behind-the-scenes figure. He's an A&R at Exit Records, a long-time London promoter and hosts a show on NTS blending the boundaries between drum & bass and hip-hop. Following his production debut, a collaboration with Ivy Lab, he's released his first solo record on their label. It's among the most colourful examples of the hybrid sound that Ivy Lab are helping to shape.
"Slanted" is the choice cut. It sounds like an early track on Brainfeeder or Alpha Pup, with hazy pads and a warm chord progression. But best of all are the drums, which feel massive but not threatening. It's like loungey main stage festival music. The percussion also stands out on "Warped Wing," where splashy drum samples underpin an off-kilter rhythm. Less experimental, "Rules" hews closer to Ivy Lab's sound, where sidechained drums and chords duel in centre stage. Each track recalls the work of other artists—from old Distal and Salva to Flying Lotus—which reflects a career spent absorbing the music before making one's own. The Spanish footwork crew BSN Posse round off the package with a jittery, breaks-infused version of "Slanted." It highlights this sound's chameleonic nature—it can be hip-hop, downtempo, trap, jungle or footwork. But no matter what, it's always musical.
Tracklist01. Rules
02. Slanted
03. Warped Wing
04. Slanted (BSN Posse Remix)