REVIEW: YOUNG SMOKE

THE SPACE ZONE | PLANET MU

It ‘s no surprise that Planet Mu Records is behind the new juke release laid out by the 18 year old Chicago producer Young Smoke, aka David Davis. As the name suggests, The Space Zone lends to an overall feeling of some future space odyssey, and if you’re familiar with Davis’ previous work, melody interwoven amongst the footwork is present. Throughout the album the caressing flares of light techno fusing with befitting bass lines reveals a slight resonance to the early days of drum ‘n’ bass.

Using samples he’s made himself from a warehouse of software synthesizers, Davis moves forward and grasping a fine balance of beat patterns offering an atmosphere of unique musical innovation, seemingly beyond the young producer’s years.

The title track “The Space Zone” lightly begins to guide the listener through an almost gooey, laid back start to an energetic album; recalling the friendly sound of a video game he intertwines along the riff of a vocoder to create and impeccable opening number to Young Smoke’s space chronicle. “Liquid Drug” comes across just as it sounds, the liquid droplets of an electronic world creates the backdrop to a rather dark & mildly menacing melody, one of the moodier tunes put on the album. Closing out the album with “Heat Impact” Davis’ combines contrasting percussive rhythms ending his fresh take of a Chicago dance culture classic on a high note.

An album that is immersive and refreshing to listeners who want to be doused in a colourful display of sharp ideas, 160bpm we thank you.

By: Jamie Goyman