[Gumption Recordings]

Listening to “Tillmans Uninfluence/Apples,” the latest release from London-based producer Ed Davenport, I can’t help but think he’s the UK’s fresh-faced answer to Boris Steffen, better known as Jichael Mackson. They share an affinity for producing tracks which jauntily tread the fine line between functionality and bedroom listening, and both utilize odd samples (vocals, usually) to keep things quirky. In fact, each of their biggest tracks to date — Steffen’s “The Grass Is Always Greener…” for Musique Risquée and Davenport’s “Eyespeak” on liebe*detail — layered affected vocals against a straightforward backdrop for an unmistakable edge. “Tillmans Uninfluence/Apples,” which arrives on Gumption Recordings (one of only two labels for which Davenport has recorded under his own name), finds Davenport climbing out onto the wire yet again; the results are pleasantly mixed.

“Tillmans Uninfluence” is a complex tune which only grows more so with each passing minute, representing some of Davenport’s most compelling and thoroughly produced work to date. Thrumming with static electricity and punctuated by hand claps, the tune raises eyebrows with a mutant organ/piano riff rolling forward with an asymmetrical gait. The tension builds further, recruiting swaths of backwards male vocals of increasing volume and knifing upstrokes. The DJ who pulls this off will be rewarded. “Apples” is also a dense thicket of sound, but it grows wobbly, even unwieldy as it stacks layer of warped vocals and whirling, sub-aquatic pings atop an undulating Silver Apples-evoking melody. The digital version of the single includes “Quest For Kicks,” which emulates the Jichael Mackson sound to a fault. A long, detuned and mildly amusing lecture on the pleasure-seeking tendencies of hippies narrates an otherwise vacuous track, leaving its synth line and percussion feeling diminutive in the cavernous sound design. While Mr. Davenport is still working the kinks out of his otherwise engaging productions, releases like “Tillmans Uninfluence” suggest there’s a bevy of strong material forthcoming to test the skills of DJs and dance floors. (post by Steve Mizek)