Actress – Its Me ( g 8 ) / Oway ( f 7 )
He is back making music on his metronome. Darren Cummings, or Actress, is preparing us for his latest unveiling, LXXXVIII (2023), soon on Ninja Tune. Actress possesses boundless creativity as the British-born beatmaker shows no signs of slowing down. Seemingly not content with making some of the last two decades' most revered and forward-thinking electronic albums. With such an eclectic sound palette, the back catalogue spans IDM, leftfield experimental, and countless other genres. The latest quadruplet of singles shows off that quality nicely. The tracks range from hip-hop to house, techno and ambient. Cummings showcases a wealth of sampling talent, sound design, off-kilter rhythms, and a steady sense of swing.
Crackly boom-bap that channels the greats such as J Dilla and DJ Shadow is a great start. Actress effortlessly flips samples that belt out verse and chorus. The influences are clear as day, and the 90's sound is undeniable and nostalgic. 'Its me ( g 8 )' is drenched in East Coast cool. It makes you miss the old Kanye. The production is so well glued together while retaining that thuggish ruggish, chopped MPC aesthetic.
The sampling wizardry continues in the dusty house journey, 'Oway ( f 7 )'. Placid and melancholic piano motifs revolve around club cloakroom kicks, forming a sense of disassociation. Gaseous stabs accent the bass that parallels the post-party a-train home. Like a flash, "PUSH POWER" erupts from the silence of the last track like a rude wake-up call from the hazy daze. Kicks and claps sound sharp and crisp as the morning chill on 'Push Power ( a 1 )'. 808 bass and lose piano amble close to being on time but never quite make it. As the song progresses, these gorgeous and powerful chords bend and warp into emotive walls of sound. Delicate vocals indicate we're moving more towards Burial's tertiary. On 'Game Over ( e 1 )', Actress blends angelic sounds that were almost a cult at times with IDM-esque glitches. Gregorian chorus and distant glitching 2-step fit together like the most unlikely puzzles. The combination of gloomy atmospherics and more technologically advanced music production techniques make the juxtaposition more intense and intentional. They intersect perfectly, almost poking fun at the archaic emotion of loneliness within such a connected modern world while also being crystal clear on the isolation maternity has cast into.
Tracklist:
Its me ( g 8 )
Oway ( f 7 )
Push Power ( a 1 )
Game Over ( e 1 )
Label: Ninja Tune (2023)
Actress – Its Me ( g 8 ) / Oway ( f 7 )
