DMX Krew

Ed DMX is old school, for real, and not just because he's been releasing vinyl on Aphex Twin's Rephlex and similarly respected labels since the mid-'90s. The Londoner's credentials are spelled out via his aesthetic, as he pieces together elements of electro, synth-pop and techno with synths and drum machines so distinctly vintage even laymen can accurately date them by ear. While Wave Funk contains 17 new compositions, they all sound like they could have been made in the early '80s, if Bruce Haack had kept his sanity and bought some commercial electronics rather than insisting on making his own. Remarkably, Ed manages to tap into the nostalgia of a seemingly simpler time, full of optimism and the excitement of exponential leaps in music technology, without sounding naïve, simplistic, longing for a trend or merely regurgitated. What's more, Rephlex has added a fantastic second disc to Ed's new album. Prolapse of the Wave Function collects several years' worth of tracks previously available only on vinyl, some 18 tracks that showcase more dub, experimental, dancehall, ambient, and drum & bass influences than heard on the more purposeful Wave Funk, making this the complete package for any fan of electronic sound.