Actress - Paint, Straw & Bubbles

Not reducible to one genre, Actress' multi-faceted style leaves him devoid of stringent categorisation, and it certainly would take a brave man to do so. Armed with a fresh outlook and showing subtle progress since 2008's 'Hazyville', Darren Cunningham drops a carrot in front of our noses ahead of his much anticipated new LP.

'Paint, Straw & Bubbles' advances from the 4/4, Detroit sensibility of his previous work and delivers a tense, angular technoid work-out with filtered percussion, popping drums and kaleidoscopic melodies. Devoid of any structural orthodoxy, the track fails to adhere to the model of techno, or even house, and consequently marks itself out as an alien within the sometimes suffocating world of dance music.
   
Following on from their tantalising collaborations released into the net earlier this year, Zomby remixes 'PS&B' into an entirely different beast. He continues with the vivid technicolour blueprint of late, adding a thrusting UK Funky rhythm and bassline, scattered with incisive gasps and chants.
   
On the flip, 'Maze' sketches out a cold wave/ early techno throwback, marking out Cunningham's extraordinarily diverse yet easily distinguishable sound.


www.myspace.com/actresskhz   

Zomby & Actress - 'Nothing'

Since providing us with two untitled tracks a month or so ago, a new Zomby & Actress collab has emerged via Zomby's Twitter page. Much like their previous work, 'Nothing' inhabits a sketchy, misanthropic world, swinging serenely for a brief two minutes before rolling to an abrupt stop. 

The mystery of Zomby and Actress' working relationship continues, with no indication from either whether these presumably unfinished pieces are acting as a precursor to a full release (we can hope).