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Various Artists – Equilibrium [STEYOYOKE]

by Priya Sen January 19, 2015

Steyoyoke Recordings latest album release ”Equilibrium” features a galaxy of myriad artists from under its imprint, and what it does, it envelops listeners in back lit cloudscapes of warm pads, soaks them in wine colored bass and drops them from great atmospheric heights, only to catch them in a safety net again, that of high end musicality and stained glass horizons. Moreover the entire spectrum is cohesive without sounding same and beckons you to listen in, perhaps multiple times to capture each track and their individual essence.
What’s also creative, is that all the artists in this union, have come together to utilize the four elements of Fire, Water, Earth and Air in their original compositions. Taking characteristics of the aforementioned, to suit the handiwork, making each one special and that much more unique.
First up Tel Aviv master musician Ran Salman opens up the pack with ”Zephyr”, as part of the air series, apart from the other three that represent this particular element in spades and that includes – ”Fading Light” – Soul Button & Nick Devon, ”Rising Silence” – Soul Button & BLANCAh and ”Gravity” – by Animal Picnic. Ran’s work on the tune, sounds like a modernist painting mirroring the old world with the contemporary. Shimmers of melody, prominent soft/loud dynamics, bursts of dissonance and amplified bass, complete this sublime piece of work. Chasing rainbows and larks, the masculine airiness of the second offering has Button and Devon’s open up the clouds with loads of sunlight kinda vibe in it, overlaid by the dense bass line and prickly textures. Mean-while Button teams up with BLANCAh for the third track, and immediately there’s a coldness in the air, with foggy gumps of bass and ultra compressed melodics. The fourth of the airy tunes, smacks you with it’s serene spacious bass shudders, and squalling snaking atmospherics. It is also the breeziest, and has a polyester sheen along-side a delightful fruity rhythm exterior.
Representing Fire; the fiery trail of ”Shattered” – by Dahu & MPathy is the first of two tunes which circulates this element. Featuring stabby chord progression all over it, it’s that wanderers dance jam, full of haughty attitude and brawny bass. On to the second offering titled – ”Harmstring” – Nick Devon & BLANCAh, is a solitary mystical flame, that tense coaxing which leads you only to the dance floor. The holding pattern of taut synth play is fumingly handsome and turns out my favorite of the pack, such is the beauty within.
Getting things watery are, Ran Salman and Soul Button with – ”Aquarius”, that’s everything muted and gurgling in tone. The arresting nature comes from the ever changing liquid structure, which goes as it goes. The ebb and flow of the bass line with the wavering synths wrap you up in a moist film of musical goodness. ”Riptide” fuses out – Aaryon & Ran Salman’s extended gorgeous soundscapes with a melodrama of bass and chord gurgles, making a definitive intelligent statement of high end dance music. That which inexorably cascades in to ”Ripple Effect”- BLANCAh with skittering drums, a pinging pad and expansive ‘open hands in the air’ strings, spiced up by a fat bottomed bass.
Topping things are ”Abyss”- Dahu & MPathy and ”Tremors” – by Soul Button and MPathy to complete the earthiness in you. While the former has oodles of drummy grooves, fractured earthy bass and slashing progression the latter, settles right down low slung, in to the dirt, gritty face out. One of those real druggy types that lulls one in to tuning in to the morphed tap- jerky bass line, and sonically superior zipper tune one can boogie with, joyously. ”Natural Order feat. Ken Rosen” – Aki Bergen & Daniel Jaze closes it off, by matching up all the four orders in one sweet bassy stroke. With vocalism and melancholic warp, and a vigorous whacky interior, overlaid with tinkles, and an expansive body.
Well mannered, woozy, beefed up and lastly that chugging compilation, for your music bag!!