- As one half of UK production duo Homepark, Fold has already cemented a rep for juicy, organic deep house. His second solo escapade, after a debut for ManMakeMusic earlier this year, offers a little bit of everything. That's sometimes a euphemism for muddled, but not in the case of Upstairs For Thinking, Downstairs For Dancing.
"Crumbs" is fluid, springy techno, with a granulated bassline that falls away like a ball bouncing downstairs. Fold dials the bass back to something more linear and portentous on "Bun Dem," with wood blocks, itchy snares and squelchy handclaps. It's a case of light and shade on "Dread," with the gentle synth hum softening the edges of the accompanying thick-set kicks. There's something of a UK garage tinge to the snares, too.
And then, as if to underline Fold's versatility in thick red ink, "Motel Dub" heads into Basic Channel-style dub techno territory. He pulls it off with aplomb, beats dripping like candle wax, bassline morphing from a regular thump to something more intricate and back again. It only adds further lustre to an impressive EP.
Tracklist A1 Crumbs
A2 Bun Dem
B1 Dread Matt
B2 Motel Dub