Son of Philip - Rain

Single

12 Sep

Son of Philip returns to Bliss Print with the eclectic three-track dubplate Rain (2023) after a string of stunning releases that have made waves in the ambient scene through undeniable talent and an ear for the cinematic. Having been embedding himself into Nottingham's electronic scene for several years, Tom Smith's music exhibits gloomy post-club energy. Whether it be the fabulously constructed ambience on debut, Play Monotonous (2021) on Nottingham's own Wigflex label, the grooved-out garage heaters of Me & Meds (2021) together with Lukas Wigflex released on Trouble Maker or the psychedelia of Allegory of The Cave (2022) coming through on his first appearance with Bliss Print. Son of Philip shows incredible restraint within every production. Fully expanding on musical ideas while leaving enough to get lost in their intricacies.

Embracing the principles of playing monotonously to fully explore musical ideas has paid off with three hugely impactful works relying on sparse melodic structures. Noise dirties up the production on the original mix of 'Rain', giving texture and personality to the notes as they throb, filling the cavernous void. Screaming highs offset by slow tempos give the distinctly electronic composition an almost classical operatic sound. Field recordings breathe life into 'Rain (Digital Mix)' while chugging featherweight hats, harkening back to Play Monotonous. Although shorter, the 'Digital Mix' receives far more rhythmic interest. Notes stutter over the strings, and sub and kick grooves fill the low frequencies, making for a different but no less engaging experience. This cut becomes a more dramatic production than the original at points due to solid percussion and sound selections. Finally, 'Rain (Keydell's 3am Dive)' summons cool night-time energy. Distinct underground breaks feed into a feeling of quiet highways illuminated by the yellow glow of streetlights. The track's second half plunges into a gritty, melancholic inner city with powerful jungle elements. Reworking the original 'Rain' atmosphere allows Keydell to imbue a nostalgic twist into the final track on the record. Keydell goes almost unjustly hard as it becomes rave adjacent.

This is definitely one of Son of Philip's standout records. It shows a producer clearly adept at space and dynamics who uses all this to create tracks they feel mean something. Covering so many bases with just three tracks is a testament to how well-produced it is that such incredible reworks could be made.

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