Elevate Me, the latest release from producer Sweatson Klank following a two year hiatus, presents a stunning mix of UK dance music with the harder beat sounds distinctive of his native LA.
Utilising the vocal sample methods that have become so popular in electronic music as of late, along with driving rhythms and heavy-diving bass lines, the five tracks explore the entire spectrum of popular electronic music. The opening track, ‘Always You’, sits mostly in the UK arena, with fast percussive elements dipping into heavy bass sounds. It’s in this first song that the heavy use of pitched and twisted vocal samples becomes apparent, an element that weaves throughout most tracks on the EP.
‘Own’, in contrast, is much more experimental in terms of its rhythmic basis, with jagged and staggered drums forcing through to the foreground of the song throughout. Along with oscillating synth patterns and a heavy use of throbbing bass, the track explores the more experimental territories of UK dance music. The LA sound is brought back completely in ‘I Can’t Explain’, bringing a rather refreshing break and pushing heavy influences of Flying Lotus and other artists on the Brainfeeder roster. The beat sits in a more regular timing with straight drum samples while soulful funky synths burst through the background in flares and the trademark vocal samples echo amongst it all.
The final song, ‘In Between’, finds the balance between the two sounds, with a deep oscillating bass and a drum line that works into a steady dance rhythm yet still working in and amongst the standard beat sound. Sweatson Klank highlights his diversity as a producer on Elevate Me, demonstrating his ability to shift between genres, yet still keeping a common theme and tying all of the tracks together into a smooth and danceable EP.
Joshua Millar
