'Matrix EP' 12

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Phuturistix is possibly the most appalling name ever to befoul a garage 12", conjuring up the hideous spectre of San Franciscan paisley techno, or worse, the noxious excresences of Sven Väth's Harthouse label. Such preconceptions thankfully dematerialise as soon as the needle hits the record, for with Matrix EP Phuturistix have crafted a compelling hybrid of 2-step's digitally recombinated swing, and the wierd, unsettling ambience of dark breakbeat tracks like Trace's 'Have You Know' and Matrix's 'Mute'. This 'isolationist' drum & bass, rarely theorised as a distinct object, has tended to fall through the cracks between the vapidity of Bukem-inspired softstep and the harder, more overtly experimental sounds of Metalheadz, 31 etc. Too thoughful for the clubs, too chilly for chilling, it has had difficulty finding a context in which to be heard. Perhaps mindful of such precedents, Phuturistix have been careful to include a healthy dose of dancefloor attitude along with their squishy synth tones and pretzel-like basslines - a move with both positive and negative effects. On the positive side, the slick skein of 'Blind Faith', which might otherwise seem bland, is repeatedly punctured by female vocal exhalations, processed like Missy Elliott or Diamanda Galas to sound predatory, malevolent, rapturously raptorous. 'Matrix' itself, though, is marred by a banal "I'm the wicked MC who'll take you higher / when I get on the mic I set the place on fire"-style rant. Thankfully, such shortcomings dwindle into irrelevance when other aspects of the EP are taken into consideration: the crisp rhythm programming, which stands up even alongside masters like Dem 2, or the straight-up gorgeousness of 'Ready''s filter-swept strings / sub-bass combination, for example. Altogether, another superb release from the UK's best garage label.