- Over the past two years Simon Flower (who previously enjoyed success as Peak:Shift on the Nuture label) has been one to watch, with select releases turning up on Moon Harbour, Poker Flat and Dessous. Under his Peak:Shift guise he released deep, emotive techno, which has seen many pine for the resurrection of the Nuture imprint. These days however, Simon Flower's releases are geared towards the dance floor, perhaps none more so than his most recent release for Moon Harbour offshoot, Curl Curl records.
Like many of his recent releases, this 12-inch started off life as part of Flower's live set. Part 1 sees a scrap of female vocal jump around and reshuffled over the top of a rumbling bass line, swelling strings and tribal percussion. It's rather limited to describe one of Simon Flower's tracks like this though, because there is always so much going on. The pads and strings make up the melody, all of them contrasting and complementing each other beautifully. Though for all the wistful beauty of these sounds, the track is grounded by the growling bass and driving percussion.
Part 2 sees Flower switch into atonal paranoia mode. With a nod to Robert Hood, he sets the synths squiggling with a simple fingered melody, though things get significantly more complex as the track evolves. Though not as immediately accessible as Part 1, Part 2 has the intensity to cause considerable dance floor commotion and will be favoured by those who like their techno somewhat recondite and full of suspense.
Tracklist A Still Here, Still There Part 1
B Still Here, Still There Part 2