Distal At Juno Download

Review: Scottish label Fortified Audio is the latest home to Atlanta producer Distal, a man who's been prolific over the last 12 months with a host of remixes and originals - most notably "Grape Donut" which appeared on Soul Jazz's huge Future Bass compilation. Here, Detroit tech rubs shoulders with tropical funky on tunes like the effervescent title track, with its wayward and off-kilter strings proving to be a real highlight, alongside the minimal funk of "Love A La Venturo". Things get taken into hyper mode though for "Africa To Mars", with astral pads and relentless rhythms marking it out as an early favourite, as well as the soft dub of "Novocaine Blonde" which recalls his previous footwerk excursion, "Coke Bottle".

Review: The proof that dubstep has become a truly global sound can he heard on the title track of Distal's Tectonic debut. Instead of lurching basslines, the US producer uses glitchy, broken rhythms that weave their way in and out of gained and distorted happy-hardcore style beats. These unlikely elements provide the backing for the kind of mournful, eerie melodies that characterised Aphex Twin's early ambient works. Just to further confuse matters, "French Science" sees Distal opt for a more laid back approach, with tantalising melodies unfolding over inviting claps and a languid, stop-start groove. Figuring out where this release will lead dubstep is a great part of its charm.

Review: Atlanta's Distal continues to shine brightly, with this new release on Sinden's Grizzly label kicking heavily thanks to the Dirty South acapella loopin' of "Boss Of The South" and the excellent ghetto 808-frenzy of "Coke Bottle". Sinden himself smoothes out "Boss Of The South" on his mix, while Capracara's South of Heaven remix of the same track is a wildly experimental and very awesome woozy-house revisit that's simply gushing with misty rave goodness.

Review: Amid much anticipation, Distal's album crash lands on Tectonic in a myriad of electronic styles all thoroughly typical of the plucky Atlantan. There's raw juke-isms on "Preach On Hustle", where the Chicago style gets slowed down and spread out, while on "Around The Fire" you'll find a swung techno framework full of alluring melodies just under the surface. There's melodica-baiting dubstep on "Rattlesnake", while electro gets pitched down for the peak time banger "House Party Five". Everywhere you turn, Distal's supremely developed production stands out, whatever vibe he's turning his hand to. In the end, that skill becomes the glue that holds this free ranging album together.

Review: After a strong 2011, Distal comes back with a new EP on Seclusiasis, proving his worth as an ambiguous producer comfortable with deploying those 'chainsaw' synth moments for dramatic effect but not relying on them for his sole method of expression. "Eel" shudders with an electro militancy, slamming the beats down hard but never reverting to obvious rave signifiers. "Kurgan" is more sly in its approach, creeping to life on a half-time beat and sounding positively restrained before the buzz saw screech goes off, only to duel with dub techno chords further in. Convoluted it may sound, but he nails his stylistic straddling perfectly.

Review: Atlanta's Distal drops a pair of future-bass winners on the Car Crash Set label, with the title tune leaning heavily on the techno side with a signature shifting arpeggio acting as a mainstay while the beats shift between moody half-step and full-on tech-stomp. In a Pearson Sound-style, "We Are VCR" is a chilly 808 'n' claps fest, topped off with some deliriously wonked-out leads twisting away in the background.