- 100 BPM bangers.
- Kouslin is a newcomer to Livity Sound, and his first release pulls the label in a new direction. The core elements (swung drums, heavy subs, melodic elements drenched in dubwise delay) are still there, but the London artist replaces the label's technoid pulse with a dembow sway, slowing the Livity swing down to around 100 BPM.
"The Beast Of Bolsover"—named for Labour hero Dennis Skinner—shows that Kouslin is a Peverelist pupil. The reduced sound palette and shimmying drum patterns, which end with a satisfying handclap thwack, recall the precision of "Raw Code," just at a slower tempo. The other cuts are more distinct, like the lurking title track. "Sharper" showers its tough dembow swing with melodic leads that curve upwards like Shepard tones.
Kouslin saves the best for last: "Ice" is an ambient, delay-soaked track with a hummable chord progression and a deceptively busy drum pattern that proves how much room there is to explore at a slower speed. 2020 Vision is a banner label debut, slotting into the established Livity Sound style while gently adding to it. With any luck, Kouslin will be an important part of the label going forward.
Tracklist01. Sharper
02. 2020 Vision
03. The Beast of Bolsover
04. Ice