Review: Blush Response – 'The Drift'

BLUSH RESPONSE
'The Drift'
BASIC UNIT PRODUCTIONS

Joey Blush's solo project is an act that goes some way to restoring your faith in music. The musician and sound designer has worked with the likes of Fear Factory and Scar The Martyr and brings a heavily modular sound to his work that recalls the likes of Trent Reznor and Alec Empire in part. His previous full-length outings 'We Are Replicants' (2010) and 'Tension Strategies' (2013) displayed a mastery of his craft that blends the harsh and experimental side of modular analogues with the polished and dance friendly styles of the post-millenium.

This four-song EP picks up where last year's album 'Tension Strategies' with the title track and 'Black Sun' showcasing perfectly Blush's ability to create funky, quirky, and unique electronic music that is both intelligent and dance friendly. While on the other side of the coin, the instrumental cuts 'Body Hammer' and 'Fiend' show off the extent of Blush's sound-crafting abilities as the beat heavy songs snake through walls of analogue synths. They could easily be included on a major sci-fi film sound track. If fact Blush could probably score one by himself if these are anything to go by.

The remixes of the title track included are just as diverse and interesting as the original with B1tes adding a haunting but bass-heavy take. While 'Blac Kolour' and 'Textbeak' get the razors out for choppy and deformed reconstructions. And M¥rrĦ Ka Ba completely re-build it in their own style.

The production is crisp and clean, recalling the likes of Alec Empire's 'Golden Foretaste Of Heaven' in some ways. Most importantly is it feels bang up-to-date in spite of the warm analogue leanings of Blush's arsenal.

This is a strong EP that will serve as a nice introduction to Blush Response for those who haven't come across his work before. 'The Drift' in particular is a great track that will be lapped up by Nine Inch Nails and How To Destroy Angels fans. Hopefully another full-length album won't be too far behind.  

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