Synkro

Consciously or not, Joe McBride is currently leading a pack of producers who have been chipping away to get the freshly coined chill-step genre on the map. This small fragment of post-dubstep creatives emphasizes melody, sensuality and general euphoria over heavily subdued rhythmic frameworks (albeit not without a fair share of cheese). McBride has managed to hone in on a comfortable middle ground though, presenting accessible themes without driving them off a cliff of elation. Lost Here is the most significant mark in his evolution as Synkro since his 2011 EP Presence, Questions, Memory on Styrax Records. With a beautiful cover that echoes the style of Katsushika Hokusai's woodblock print, "The Great Wave off Kanagawa," Apollo facilitates the collaboration between the Manchester-based producer and vocalist Robert Manos. Though tastefully executed, this development will be readily embraced by fans or tearfully resisted, due to a strong pop-leaning aura surrounding the record's A-side that is bound to isolate those that have grown fond of McBride's more interpretive expressions. Nonetheless, the release is a significant leap forward for the rising producer and devotees should be pleased with the pair of comparable beats on the flip.