Actress

The highly anticipated second release from Actress gains points for range, but loses them for underdeveloped execution. Darren Cunningham brings together '80s drum machine funk, rounded synth tones, ultra-low dubstep sounds and random glitchy blips in his captivatingly dense, yet clear, mixes. A minimal spirit marks the proceedings; once the listener has wrapped their head around the eclectic ingredients of each song not much development ensues. As always in dance music, it's perfectly fine to ride a groove for all it's worth, as long as that groove remains interesting. When it does, in the implicitly funky "Lost," the effect is appropriately hypnotic. But elsewhere, as in "Maze," a plodding, quarter-note synth bass stays right where it began, failing to ignite the song. Ultimately, most of these songs are sketches, and the shorter ones tend to work better. This in no way detracts from Actress being an artist to watch, as his best work suggests new dimensions in soulful sound design.