Christoph Vogel, one half of German production duo Suburb, goes solo this month with his Blackbird EP. Fans of Suburb will find themselves on familiar ground here, as all the German deep-house ingredients are accounted for: deep bass, heavy kick, ominous synth-tones. And while one might have a hard time arguing that Vogel pushes the envelope here, the two tracks on hand here are nevertheless expertly crafted and worthwhile, a reflection of an artist deeply immersed in a specific musical culture.
"Blackbird" is the groovier of the two, peaking with the introduction of a vamp that commands one's head to bob, while B-side "Vertigo" opens with haunting pads that immediately pull you into its dark ride for the next six and a half minutes. Both sport central ambient sections that are hauntingly beautiful. As is essential in a genre that can at times be minimal or repetitive to a fault, Vogel's pacing here is spot on, with elements added or withdrawn at just the right time. This economy of sound lends the work a compelling austerity, like a deep-house incarnation of Eric Prydz.
The remixes included are worthwhile, too. Musk and Liar inject their offerings with requisite originality while tastefully referencing the originals. All in all, Blackbird is a solid if brief package.
(Empore Music)"Blackbird" is the groovier of the two, peaking with the introduction of a vamp that commands one's head to bob, while B-side "Vertigo" opens with haunting pads that immediately pull you into its dark ride for the next six and a half minutes. Both sport central ambient sections that are hauntingly beautiful. As is essential in a genre that can at times be minimal or repetitive to a fault, Vogel's pacing here is spot on, with elements added or withdrawn at just the right time. This economy of sound lends the work a compelling austerity, like a deep-house incarnation of Eric Prydz.
The remixes included are worthwhile, too. Musk and Liar inject their offerings with requisite originality while tastefully referencing the originals. All in all, Blackbird is a solid if brief package.