Flotilla (UK electronica)

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Flotilla are from south London’s Crystal Palace area, ironically one of London’s highest points above sea level. This is an area brimming with musical projects; indeed most dub-step hierarchy live on the doorstep, with ‘Burial’ and ‘Mala’ leading the charge. Mind you, this is not dub-step.

Although there is not a lot we can tell about this elusive outfit, the hinting Detroit-influenced electronica washing out of Flotilla’s south London studio is infectious, and in their debut release both ‘Behave’ and ‘Cathedral’ have strong statements of intent. This is going to be good.

Ho Hum Records have picked up the baton here and with no surprise, for this quirky EP is infectious and reminiscent of the early Leftfield 12”s which went on to provide so much more. So what of the music?

‘Behave’ opens with an extraordinary wave of analogue synth before bursting the banks with a hypnotic front-step beat which will move the club on it’s own – before long, a child’s voice breaks through the darkness and questions the make-up of our very maker, another voice adding point-blankly that we will ‘die when it’s time for us to die’. This is no walk in the park.

‘Cathedral’, with its Vibes hook and rolling beat offers a peek in to a sinister world of alleyways, dark nights and paranoia. Not sounding out of place on any suspense soundtrack, ‘Cathedral’ is not one for the dark walk home, strangely addictive; a compulsive listen this, with the tension building to a massive crescendo before the track finally rests up a little and allows the paranoia to fade, a bit.

Either side of these moody pieces are ‘Crusty’, a minute of filtered noise sounding more like insects than anything modular - and the delicious ‘On A Street’ which paints a picture we all know well; in amongst the ambient noises of the cars, parents and kids are soft dreamy pads and slight of rhythm. Beautiful. Hypnotic, dare I say it, chilled.

Annotation last modified on 2010-09-17 15:28 UTC.

Discography

EP

YearTitleArtistRatingReleases
2010Flotilla EPFlotilla52

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