Minimal music has dominated dance floors worldwide for the last couple of years along with electro. Both genres couldn’t be more different stylistically yet both have divided dance music lovers like few genres before. My gripe with minimal has always been that while the production itself tends be quite strong, the lack of melody makes the tracks ultimately forgettable in the long run. That’s why there have been so few “quality” artists that have been able to bridge the gap successfully. Names like Trentemoller, Booka Shade and M.A.N.D.Y have all had great success at the same time a stable of others have come and gone without leaving their mark. Now Illicit Audio has given us a new EP, from Cubism Records (UK), of three minimal tunes, so the question is – which camp do these tunes fall into?

First up, the duo of Lofty and John Kirven presents us with “Sweden", which instead of a bassline, has a somewhat repetitive melody that begins to grate on the ears after several repetitive minutes. There are the very basic of effects here and as a listener you’re forced to focus on the melody. Normally this should be a strong point, especially in minimal, but here the track could use a few more “bells & whistles” in the background to provide some added depth.

Following on is Progressive-Sounds' very own Justin Steel. Justin has been dropping some fantastic mixes for the site and here he teams up with Mike Mackeeg on the track, “Norway.” From the opening kick drum, I had a hunch this was going to be good. Then the echo effects come in, giving the track a very spacey, dubby vibe, not unlike Trentemoller’s recent work. Normally comparisons aren’t a good thing but when you draw inspiration from the master of minimal, I think it’s quite a compliment. Not only is the rolling bassline infectious but also Justin and Mike have not forgotten about the melody either. Moody synth stabs work in perfect unison with the bass and beats and at the halfway point of the track, the melody morphs into a shimmering climax that carries through to the end, calling to mind the days of the progressive house breakdown. Perfect for the beginning or middle of a set, this second production from the duo certainly leads to the promise of big things ahead.

Last but not least is “Denmark”, again by Lofty and John Kirven. The track opens very similarily to “Norway,” with its deep bassline and shuffling minimal house beat. But where “Norway” brought in a melodious melody, this track relies solely on its bassline. As a result, the track becomes repetitious and quickly looses its appeal. “Denmark” falls under the “other side” of the minimal genre, where it’s all filler unfortunately. It’s a shame because the production is strong but the lack of any memorable melody or “hook” ultimately dooms it.

“The Scandinavian EP” is a great example of the pros and cons of the minimal subgenre. While technically very proficient production wise, there’s almost too much attention paid to the minimal, clicking beats and blips and loses sight of what makes dance music so memorable. Obviously this genre is designed to do something different for the listener, but the line between club and armchair listening is being blurred. Not fast enough for the club and not melodious enough for headphone excursions. Some people prefer their tunes all bass and no bliss and if that’s you, perhaps you’ll be into two of these tracks. For this reviewer, I can only give my stamp of approval to Justin Steel and Mike Mackeeg.


Source: Progressive Sounds