Pop Albums: Alex Reece So Far Fourth & Broadway BRCD 621

Andy Gill
Thursday 08 August 1996 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

And so to this week's drum 'n' bass offering, an above-average release from the new wunderkind of the genre, unfortunately thrown into the shade by Lewis Taylor's dazzling debut.

Reece's talent lies in bringing an easy, laidback feel to a musical style more noted for the hyperactive intensity of its rhythms.

On the best tracks, such as the single "Feel The Sunshine", he builds gently with hi-hats, adding a string pad and little bubbles of synthesiser, while Deborah Anderson's calm, Bjorky murmurs give some impression of what a putative Goldie/Bjork collaboration might sound like.

The slick "Jazz Master" features a slippery jazz hi-hat pattern tinted with trumpet and piano, and the fast, skittering house piece "Acid Lab" gives some idea of the route Reece may have taken on a journey between rave and jungle. But long before it has run its course, the album seems to have used up its fund of ideas; tracks become drawn out way beyond their natural length, and save for the occasional song such as "Candles", there is a baffling lack of focus beyond the few smudges of sampled sound that decorate the grooves.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in