Simon Li / ’50-80 EP’
Digital / Vinyl
Hummingbird / Released 14th February 2011
Simon Li kicks things off on Edgar Jack’s brand new label with a slice of shuffling broken house. Low slung rhythms rule as we’re treated to two original tracks, met with three rather enticing remixes.
No doubt most people will immediately be drawn to micro-production hero Akufen’s take on Hong Kong. There’s the same rhythmic reliance on panned keys from the original, though here it’s realised with patient, brooding and, eventually, fat-bass-filled electronica edginess. What’s more, with it’s classic vocal hook traditionalists should also find themselves satisfied, meaning it’s not just aimed at the trailblazers.
And that’s not to say the source of inspiration isn’t a wholly worthwhile effort in its own right too. One for fans of chunkier, driving sounds, sparse chimes allude to techno while chords grow into a real hands in the air moment. In contrast Dead For Life sounds more like a live drum kit being played, stepping and topped with reverse cymbals, while warm, muted organs complete a fine, Wbeeza type ‘classic’ outing.
Hotly tipped South American DJ-producer Violett then gets a look in with two remixes of the just-described. She lets things get deeper, dirtier and more sample based. At this point it’s important to point out that it’s not just you, there really is a sporadically placed lyrical drop straight from Orbital’s Belfast. But, far from sounding out of place, it provides a good example of the multi-faceted ethic inherent across this contemporarily styled release.
