Ben Fairweather aka Ens weaves jazzy analogue sounds through the darkness of digital loops with such fluid style that the mash of the electronic with the organic becomes seamless. Warp And Weft, quite simply put, is a thoroughly hypnotic take on the soundtrack-styled electronica emerging from Australia at the moment. Hollywood noir meets syncopated rhythms without clashing; instead, the mixture creates a sound that is never abrasive, but also never fails to be compelling. Wandering rhythmic studies in mood, like Perspective, suggest a wealth of experience in front of computer monitors, but Ens' greatest trump card is a natural flair for atmos and the ability to arrange well-balanced compositions like a live jazz combo. The term 'digital jazz' is accurate but doesn't quite cover the depth of mood displayed on Sideways Up and the blue feeling suggested by Tranquilaise. This isn't one of those albums that inspires a hefty review. Suffice to say that if you're looking for a mood-enhancing collection of beautiful light electronic sounds with a dash of jazz, you can't possibly get any better than Warp And Weft.

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Tracklisting

Full listing of ENS releases