Review: For the last eight years, Birmingham label Audio Overload have brought you some of the best in underground UK flava and continue on with their mission in fine form on VIP Part 1. This inaugural edition comes from scene stalwart Midst and features, as the name suggests, some digital exclusives made for a proper rinse out. Highlights come in the form of collaborations such as the wonky tech stepper "Too Many Lives" with Padman, the seething neurofunk of "Poltergeist" in collaboration with Jedi, and the jump-up vibe of "Little Boy" featuring Emzylaro.
Review: It's Vibes O'clock at Audio Overload HQ as the super-prolific Midst returns to the label to follow up the carnage of his 'Dance Off' EP. Instantly we can hear him spread his wings even further as 'Truth' goes full-on purring soul, all stripped back for the vocals to bare all emphatically. Deeper into the EP we glide to strike shimmering sunrise flavours on 'Shadow Over Her', 'Heartbeat' taps into old school house influences while the title track 'Changing Time' is all about those keys and that soaring voice. Get deep in your feels.
Review: Midst is a prolific jump-up producer and Audio Overload have released that side of his productions before, but this Sleepless Nights EP is something different, something a bit more brooding and stripped back. There are some wicked minimal vibes here, especially on 'Sleepless Nights', which combines a double kick, a diving sub bass and eerie shimmers to foment a tapestry of minimalistic depth, one which gradually gets bigger and bigger. 'Good Body Gyal' combines the two sounds in a really cool way that reminds us of Simula, whilst 'Whine Pon Mi' has a foreboding air to its stabby synthetic construction. Top work.
Review: Just one kiss is all it takes. Where does it take you? Well that's your responsibility pal, you can keep your private life to yourself, but we can tell you where Midst's kiss takes you... Goosebump town. Those ravey pianos, that vocal and then that sudden plummet into bassline anarchy - you'll be puckering up before the second drop. The van keeps rocking throughout the EP; 'Asylum Party' is Midst on a deeper Kyrist-style tip, all slinky and taut with suspense while 'My Whine' finishes this little love session with a smidgeon of afrobeat flavour in the chainsaw mix. Kiss kiss bang banger.
