Jon Convex At Juno Download

Review: Since first emerging in early 2011, Jon Convex has become something of a surprise poster boy in the world of techno/bass music fusion. Following a string of hyped released on Nonplus, 3024, Naked Lunch and his own Convex Industries imprint, Damon Kirkham now releases his much anticipated debut set Idoru. What's most impressive about this collection is how it perfectly demonstrates Kirkham's ability to inject copious amounts of subtle funk into warm, glitchy techno and melody-rich post dubstep grooves. To prove his adaptability, there are also forays into tougher territory (the booming "Aversion"), Detroit electro ("No Love", "Idoru") and post-rave peaktime jams (the near anthemic "What I Need").

Review: Jon Convex - otherwise known as Instra:mental member Damon Kirkham, will be releasing his debut solo album very soon, but first he offers three tracks from the album on this single package. "Fade" is a big surprise - with forlorn male vocals singing over a backdrop of melancholy synths, only the tight 2-step drum pattern stops it sounding like a lost 80s synth pop classic. "New Model" meanwhile takes the mutated form of techno and bass Kirkham has been developing over the moniker with wobbling subs swinging underneath a firm 4/4 rhythm, while "Shadows" is a stripped back affair filled with rough synthetic rumblings, and contemporary rhythmic swagger. Finally G Vump - aka Brodinski and Guillaume of The Shoes - provide a unique dubstep inspired take on "Fade" filled with footwork referencing rhythms that has more than a bit in common with Kuedo's recent output.

Review: The latest release form Irish label [Naked Lunch] sees Instra:mental's Jon Convex deliver two tracks of pounding ghetto house influenced techno. "Pop That P", which this writer assumes is a reference to a lady's private parts, features a monotonous vocal repeating the track title. It stops short of the kind of lyrical filth that a ghetto maestro like Funk is capable of, yet its bassline is more distorted and its rhythm looser and more rolling than the original sound. "Your Mind (Or Mine)?" is even more interesting as it sees Convex dispense with the obvious or understated obscenities - the vocals are relegated to a mere muffle - and deploy an equally distorted, murky bass. However, instead of the trademark kettle drums, he uses a shuffling electro 808. This adds a new dimension to the sound and suggests that in the same way as Larry Heard and Virgo 4 have enjoyed a rebirth, the time might be right for Chicago's rawest sound to be re-awoken.

Review: After making his debut on Martyn's 3024 imprint, Mr. Convex brings it on home to Nonplus and throws down some more of that grinding electro nastiness. "Radar" starts on a false pretense of strung-out pleasantries before a dirty old bassline bowls in to push and shove with the sizzling beats. It's superb stuff, but "Vacuum States" just about pips it with a more rolling, breakbeat fuelled groove. It's when the first half of the track melts away that things get interesting, tapping into that vintage Braindance feel that has made all the Instra:mental affiliated output of late so much fun.

Review: Jon Convex returns to 3024 with a lead track that twists the trend of modern electro smartly with a smooth vocal turn from DBridge. The beat and synths growl and prowl in a thoroughly sinister fashion, keeping things simple and deadly, while the vocal lifts the taut atmosphere without ever cheapening it. "Zero" takes things down a house route with a punchy beat and muted synth deployment, making a functional beast that exists in the same world of urban dread that characterises "Lied To Be Loved". "Stay" is the outsiders choice here with a softer complexion in its 4/4 bone structure and more application of synths to bring a glow to the cheeks.