Over the years, Bristol has become known as a city that is always happy to push the boundaries of electronic music. This local attitude towards experimentation in sound has bred some fantastic projects and label imprints over the years, including the magnificent Livity Sound. Launched back in June 2011, in their own words, the label represents: Sound System Frequencies. Body Music, always seeming keen to explore new, unique areas of techno music with a constant stream of fantastic sonic results. The catalogue they have amassed since their inception remains nothing short of outstanding, with their roster now featuring the likes of Peverelist, Kowton, Hodge, Batu, Randomer, Bakongo and more. The tight-knit crew behind the labels progression have continued to showcase UK techno in its purest, most forward-thinking form and with a catalogue of blissful creations to show for it, the future has never looked brighter for The Bristol-based pioneers.
Review: Adding a wild card flavour to Livity Sound ever since appearing on its Dnuos Ytivil sub-label back in 2016, Forest Drive West has used the parent label as his more club-centric vibe. This EP follows his 2018 Aspirations album, and leading with the linear kicks and offbeat hats of "Dualism", Forest Drive West heads its production in the direction of misty techno designed to be heard in the woods - before turning toward a more classic Italian polyrhythmic sound and atmosphere via "Ritual". That saddles up next to some Leo Anibaldi-like basslines in "New Day" with something of a bonus track coming in "Scorpion" which sees FDW hook up with the live and acoustic drums of Australian instrumentalist Lucky Pereira.
Review: Having given London duo Two Shell their debut back in 2019, Livity Sound welcomes back the duo from a natural hiatus that had them establish their own Mainframe Audio imprint in 2020. Bringing back to Livity Sound a style inspired by early dubstep and grime, this SoulCity EP throws down a bouncing gauntlett of laser-like percussion and mellifluous drums. "Blobject" hits on touches of reggae and the delay of trance-like chords while "Soft Core" pushes at something a little more dubbed-out, lo-fi and rhythm-centric. "LabBaby(TM)" keeps it busy in the bottom end while sticking to something light on the top, with "Speedrun" tapping into a goa-like trip.
Review: Drawing influences from the likes of Suzanne Ciani, Laurel Halo and Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith; Surgeons Girl is the latest artist to be offered a debut on Livity Sound. A local artist in Bristol and audio-visual performance specialist, this Violet Sleep EP sees Surgeons Girl's recorded tones buzz with a vibrant analogue sound of extraterrestrial synth explorations and warm, low end frequencies that merge and converge with melodious displays of high-end synthesis. The EP's most experimental touches come through the vocal cuts and stutters of "Clouded Temper/Small Steps" while pumping drums hold the line for a bleeping sequence of heavy synth progressions to land in "Intimate Advance". Lighter, more abstract drums ease the tides in "Sympathetic Cycle" with the theatrics of "Rescind" at only two-minutes-50 offering up an epic closing number.
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