While London-based electronic producer Om Unit (real name Jim Coles) was initially associated with the more forward-thinking end of the drum and bass spectrum when he first emerged at the start of the noughties, more recent years have seen him diversify his sound, with electro and dubstep being just some of the genres he’s subsequently explored. It’s a trajectory that further continues with this latest three track 12” EP ‘Friend Of Day’, his first for Bristol record store and label Idle Hands. For the most part the music here is centred around more contemplative and laidback grooves, with midtempo techno and house being the predominant forms drawn upon. Title track ‘Friend Of Day’ certainly embodies this shift, conjuring up warm and wistful vibes as gently thudding muted kickdrums and crisply syncopated snares glide alongside soul-tinged analogue synth bends and soft-hued background ambience.
There’s a definite sense of these smoothly meandering and lulling tracks being more geared towards chilled out headphone listening than the dancefloor. ‘Basement Superman’ sees a more aqueous dub-techno feel creeping into proceedings as eerie sonar-esque bleeps and flanged-out percussion pulses creep against delayed-out ragga atmospheres in a manner that hints at Rhythm & Sound’s digi-dub explorations, the synth bends that soar in the background counteracting the moody vibes with a palpable sense of warmth. Lastly, ‘What It Is’ strips things right back, sending a ticking minimal techno rhythm pulsing against blocky analogue bass pads while sheeny ambient synths trail in the background, the zapping synth bursts at the end suddenly snapping things out of their hazy reverie. Smoothly mesmerising stuff that sees Om Unit continuing to expand his sound with consistently interesting results.
