The most distinctive part of Keef Baker’s sound is the bass, not surprising given he used to be a session bass player. Warm rolling bass lines sit consistently beneath sprawling arrangements, some of which sound a little too familiar. Chance and The Middle sound uncannily like Leftfield’s 1995 album Leftism. Baker wears his ‘IDM’ influence on his sleeve, and I found the twisted electronic elements a little token, like an after thought – a sprinkling of computer intervention wasn’t enough to stop me from feeling a growing sense of déjà vu as I listened to this. The EP contains some technically admirable drum programming, and lovely atmospherics in the quieter moments, though I felt annoyed rather than touched by the ubiquitous whimsical string fillers, and some of the synth elements have an antiseptic feel – intentionally or not. Some of the best elements get lost in the mix, for instance Certainty opens with a lazy piano line over a low, chopped break, but its quickly obliterated by a predictable, booming dance floor oriented drum track.
This will fit easily into the boxes of some DJ’s, and Boards of Canada fans might appreciate it (The End sounds like a BOC tribute), but there’s something very generic about it.
*
