Jim Rivers ‘Airport Vultures’

Jim Rivers / Airport Vultures

Digital 

Intec Digital / Released February 2011

 

What does it sound like? 

For those familiar Mr Rivers’ through his 2009 Global Underground Nubreed triumph, or his formative years spent on the fringe of progressive house associations, it’s easy to lump him in with the old guard, as with so many of his peers. But one listen to that mix, or indeed this debut production long-player, proves this to be a gross misconception.

Less epic breakdowns and majestic harmonies then, and more Detroit-influenced dancefloor hits. Though this isn’t in any way meant to suggest a lack of depth or timbre to the work on offer. Closer Bells, for example, is amongst the finest non-club pieces of looped music you’re like to hear in a while, sending piano over piano, over tracking cymbals and a live drum rhythm, nodding to Apparat’s last album, and other fine arrangers of near-symphonies.

Elsewhere though we do get shown how to move, not least in Tangent– all reversed out synth and raw, tracking hi-hats. Motor City sounds indeed (albeit from a British resident), it’s the kind of tough but not hard noise that sets us up well for other outings, like the title track’s manic, jacking rhythms, rattling snares, and wasp in a jar hook. Meanwhile deeper, housier moments abound too, such as the dubby On The Line (think afternoon terraces), and the sharp, stabbing Your Love Uhh, which comes complete with baritone male samples and floor-sweeping percussion to add a little extra bite.

What highlights can I expect to hear?

The Seventh Degree takes things nicely into futurist electro-techno territory, nodding to Robert Hood and the like, whilst We Can Do This All Night seems to come with a far more British mentality, invoking rave, early hard house, and contemporary faces such as Ben Sims with its rapped “we can do this…” vocal. On the flip side Sleepless In Detroit is something of a jaunty affair packed with warm pads and a bumbling bassline, although Nearly There most likely wins out on the downtempo, uplifting front thanks to its continual build into filtered melody heaven.

Why should I pay for it? 

Credit where it’s due.

Where can I buy it? 

Intec Digital online.

 

 


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