- Graze have come a long way since their self-titled debut in 2013, moving from a striking and highly melodic form of UK bass music towards more overt techno. After a quiet 2015, Adam Marshall and Christian Andersen returned this year with Kliph, three big tracks that wouldn't be out of place on Ilian Tape, and now Xup, the first Graze record not released by Marshall's New Kanada label. This EP is the sixth installment in Dekmantel's UFO series and has four of the duo's most straightforward techno productions to date. The tracks still have the slick, simple sound design, dark energy and ample sub-bass that have helped define Graze, but the rigid rhythms and underutilized synths are less engaging.
Despite its oppressive 4/4 and uninspired hook, the title track keeps things interesting with some percussive clatter and a soft snarl of a bassline. It grows increasingly chaotic and cacophonous during its nine minutes, before unceremoniously fading away in the final two. "Tryptch" and "Shadow Play" work better in the banging DJ tool department, with spacious arrangements that make each resonant drum hit and spacey texture really pop in the mix. In fact, the latter track, with its halftime sway, could have been double the length without losing steam. Across six and a half minutes, "Vast" consolidates many of Xup's better qualities and wraps them in glowing synth harmony and starry ambience. It's tame as far as techno goes, but it sounds like Graze doing what comes naturally.
TracklistA1 Xup
A2 Vast
B1 Tryptch
B2 Shadow Play