Michael J. Blood - Raven / Hemoglobin / TRGR
Michael J. Blood has been plugging away in the underground for a while now, with a string of cassette releases showcasing his saturated sound and dilla-esque drifting beats. For those who aren't acquainted, the Manchester-based producer, DJ, founder of Blood Inc., and co-founder of BodyTronixxx has been operating on the fringes of dance music with an off-the-wall sound that demands attention. He's quickly become renowned for his ferocious song structure and sound innovations, which keep things fresh for those willing to search him out. It's not often that you can do so much with so little, but Michael J. Blood finds a way. His ability to give all the instruments used a soul is apparent throughout. Subtle degradation of sound, a bit of saturation, and the odd separation between instruments add mystery to the obscure act.
The opener, 'Raven', is a preposterous combination of weighty 808s, crunching claps and a shaker held loosely together with a wavy synth. It's totally off-kilter for such a minimal track with heaps of energy. One of Michael's best qualities is his dubby chords, which are out in full force on 'Hemoglobin'. The way stabs wizz past you only to swell and stutter, fighting to be the centre of attention. The kickass proto-acid beat that keeps the groove firing on all cylinders adds beautifully to its analogy loft party sound. Rounding out the record is the old-school heat of 'TRGR' that pushes the notion of the sampled house to its limits. Every sound feels like it's redlining through blown-out speakers in the best way. It's warm and inviting but has such thrilling, nonsensical energy. Samples stutter, interrupt and fall over each other in this chaotic ballet. It's so hard to nail Michael J. Blood down in a description. On the one hand, his eccentric and unpredictable approach to music-making feels ahead of his time. At the same time, his raw DIY sound is so authentic and slightly sloppy that it only adds to the gritty charm.
Tracklist:
Raven
Hemoglobin
TRGR
Label: DDS (2024)
Michael J. Blood - Raven / Hemoglobin / TRGR
