This inaugural release from new underground electronic music label Rubi Records celebrates the welcome return of minimalist drum & bass producer Ashley Tindall, aka Skeptical, showcasing his first solo productions for over two years. Working with the clean slate that comes from setting himself no stylistic constraints, Ashley offers three new tracks that, although stamped with his meticulous trademark style, hit a little different than you might expect. If you've listened to the most recent remixes he has done, you'll have heard a hint of what's in store here: a maturity of style with an evolved sonic palette that takes his signature sound into new territory. Ashley Tindal has always been forward-thinking when it comes to his productions, but never more so than with this EP, which delivers three slices of the highest quality, cutting-edge D&B.
The EP kicks off with 'Thru My Head', a sinister, dub-tinged beast that builds up with a dark, mesmeric melody before dropping some serious 'stepper' beats and an undulating low-end that rolls as only a Skeptical b-line does.
'Push Up' delves into much heavier territory. An intro of claustrophobic pads and menacing keys leads into a savage drop of surgical beats that have been crafted with military precision, underpinned with a monstrous bass line, and injected with the simple but effective 'push up' vocal hook. Add in some trademark Skeptical sounds and you have a certified dance floor weapon to get the crowd moving.
The EP closes with 'Initiate', a dystopian slice of D&B futurism that mixes up dark pads, beats so tense they ooze nervous energy, and some of the most twisted sci-fi sonics yet used by Skeptical. This is a masterclass in next-level business!
