Brighton’s SpectraSoul release their debut album on Shogun Audio…
SpectraSoul’s debut album ‘Delay No More’ has all the master strokes we have come to expect from Brighton-based duo, Dave Kennet and Jack Stevens. With previous releases on many of the major drum and bass labels – from Goldie’s Metalheadz to dBridge’s genre challenging Exit Records, ‘Delay No More’s release on Shogun Audio feels like a culmination of 3 or 4 years of intent.
The album sounds experimental, but not incomplete, changing tempo and vibe almost track after track; from the down tempo, cup-a-soup comfort of ‘Ish Chat’, straight into the bucket-of-Stella rowdiness of ‘Sometimes We Lie’s grizzly baseline. That’s not to say there is no consistent sound to the album, quite the opposite in fact.
Being big fans of vocal music, SpectraSoul have employed the talents of compelling vocalists such as Terri Walker and Tamara Blessa, which haunt the album from the first to the last. Couple this with consistently buxom, rolling baselines – and a tasteful use of that faux-record crackle we all secretly love, and you are left with an album which rises and falls, yet remains true to its fundamentals.
Top tier percussive production ensures that ‘Delay No More’ is a head-nodder throughout. Tracks featuring tight snares, and often delicate percussive nuances are punctuated with the concrete punches and hi hat mayhem of tracks such as ‘Shackles.’ It’s this variety which ensures that there’s something for everyone, from drum and bass traditionalists to the genre sceptics.
Stand out tracks for me have to be ‘Away With Me,’ which will creep into your head, and ‘Shoestring’, a funky little end to an otherwise soulful album.
The full album is available on CD and as a digital download from shogunaudio.co.uk, and all the usual online distribution services. Those willing to splash out an extra couple of quid on the ‘Deluxe’ version of the album will be treated to some bonus tracks, including remixes from Calibre and Kito, which are in my opinion well worth the extra cash alone.
Words by Rhys.