Umek - Utopia EP
Posted by
Martin Gould at
22/03/2008 19:00:38
Renaissance newcomer Umek really delivers here - an EP with 3 very playable, albeit very different tracks. The title track 'Utopia' is a tech-house winner: in equal measures moody, dark and ambient, it captures that 4AM feeling with a simple structure but fresh sound - I honestly think that the drum pattern is good enough to release as a more minimal track in its own right. Couple all this with an urgent, reverby breakdown at half time (which builds incredibly without being cheesy or melodramatic) and you've got yourself a winner that will undoubtedly be finding its way into all Sasha and Digweed-alikes the world over.
The Tigerskin remix delivers exactly what you'd expect: a housier (and altogether happier) take on the same story. I personally prefer the original (Tigerskin's breakdown is absolutely epic, though) but the re-edit does offer a slightly different viewpoint from the seriousness of Umek's interpretation. To wind it all up, there's 'Suspension of Disbelief' which is the definitely the most "techy" of the offerings here. Very moody and very well crafted - it just doesn't quite live up to 'Utopia' for me.