Om Unit

Om Unit builds on his earlier release from 2011, Timps, with this gorgeous spot of synth funk artfully jacked up into footwork territory. It's a bit reminiscent of Salva's deftly syncopated Complex Housing from earlier this year, especially in terms of its constantly body rocking tom rhythms. However, there's an effective variety of moods to showcase Om Unit's expert beat chopping. Blissful reggae or R&B motifs give way to double-time explorations, such as "Vibrations" and its molasses-slow James Brown vocal sample. Other songs have a harder edge: "Cold World" is the bastard child of Trent Reznor and Sly and Robbie. This EP proves once again that what makes today's best electro-influenced music a clear advance on its '80s influences is the contemporary attention to minute sonic details afforded by superior technology combined with strong songwriting skills. Remixes by Machinedrum and Ital Tek both hit harder than the originals while retaining their suppleness.