Adam Freeland re-emerged earlier this year with the first new music on his influential Marine Parade label since 2009. It came alongside fellow UK underground architect Duncan Forbes and signalled a deeper, dubber new direction for the breakbeat pioneer. A long-time lover of dub and techno who spent 10 years living off-grid in the Mojave desert, building an off grid studio, writing scores and recording with Ry X as The Acid, Freeland has lost none of the vision and studio craft that made him a globe-trotting DJ and producer.
The same is true of Forbes, one half of pioneering UK duo Spooky and someone who helped shape early ambient techno and progressive house. Whether solo, working with greats like Mr. G and Sasha or heading up his 49North imprint, Forbes remains at the sharp end of the electronic scene.
‘Stereo to Mono’ sinks into a world of cavernous dub powered by meticulous, dusty breaks. Static scrabbles across the face of the track and widescreen chords ripple to an infinite horizon that soothes body and mind. The In Dub version slows things to a purposeful and spacious crawl drenched in reverb and low-end oscillation. ‘Pleasure’ kicks off with a surge of tightly wound breakbeat energy that courses through your veins. Wiggly synths romp through the mix, FX and filters fray the edges, and sustained chords bring serenity to the driving bass. The pace is frantic, and the vibe is a chase sequence in a sci-fi thriller. ‘Sweetlife’ finds plenty of space between the punchy, broken drum patterns – synths flicker like candlelight, spacecraft vapour trails melt to nothing, and the thick atmosphere hugs you tightly.
Equal parts adrenaline and afterglow, The Pleasure EP is another masterful return from two veterans who’ve lost none of their edge.
Adam Freeland: Instagram – Soundcloud – Facebook – Beatport
Duncan Forbes: Instagram – Bandcamp – Website
Marine Parade: Instagram – Soundcloud – Beatport