Review - Eskmo (Self-Titled)

Brendan Angelides is San Francisco based producer Eskmo, who is the latest signing to Ninjatune. Angelides has previously produced remixes for Warp and Planet Mu, releasing the singles 'Hypercolor' and 'Agnus Dei' in 2009 on his own label Ancestor and collaborated with Amon Tobin as 'Eskamon'. Amon Tobin said Angelides' music was "some of the best production I've heard in recent times". Quite an accolade indeed.

On this, his debut album, Angelides has constructed beat-driven electronica in the same vein as fellow LA producers Nosaj Thing, Lorn and Flying Lotus, but with the added element of his own heavily treated vocals and organic bass, giving a lighter feel to the work.

The album opens with the spinning gyroscope that is 'Cloudlight', an obvious choice of single, it being the most accessible and clear use of Angelides' vocals.

'You Go I See That' is a short melancholic Bladerunner-esque ballad - distant and cold with slow industrial drums thumping in the background.The listener can almost see Rutger Hauer in the rain "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I've watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate".

'Moving Glowstream' also references Vangelis' with its long synth motifs, as does the sc-fi future-funk of 'Starships'. Elsewhere, juttered mashed up samples and synths sound like transformers transforming, but this is definitely Decepticon rather than Autobot.

'We Have Invisible Friends (Washed Mix)' which originally appeared on the Hypercolor 12", is ghostly, cinematic and crystalline, with an undercurrent of warm synth lines. 'Siblings' is led by a dubstep shuffle and Cold & Stone kicks off as if it's about to go full on acid jungle, but instead rests on a swamp-animal bass and sharp lasers.

Eskmo has created his own sound, and is an exciting addition to the Ninjatune roster. In places cinematic, dark and melancholic, there's plenty of organic bass, broken beats and future sci-fi synths. More importantly, there's tonnes of ideas here, revealing themselves with every new listen. My only critcism would be the slight over-produced 'glossy' feel in places, other than that, this is a strong debut.

Website: www.eskmo.com

Myspace: www.myspace.com/eskmo

Ninjatune: http://www.ninjatune.net/ninja/artist.php?id=174