[State Of Joy]

Entering underground consciousness as one third of the much-hyped “purple trinity” (alongside Joker and Gemmy) that broke through the Bristol underground in 2008, Guido makes quirky and idiosyncratic dubstep, imbued with eccentricity and a keen ear for melodic progression. His 2010 debut LP on Punch Drunk, Anidea, was a richly satisfying record that scaled the emergent hinterland between dubstep and R&B, adding a bounty of vibrant color to a scene where grayscale can sometimes proliferate. But while a wearying host of producers now appropriate R&B — chopping and splicing 90s diva vocals ad infinitum — Guido’s music is largely free of such hackneyed devices, relying instead upon virtuoso synth work. On this first 12″ for his new State of Joy imprint he offers two slightly more subdued cuts, refining his exuberant melodic kinks with a newfound slickness.

“Micro X” kicks off with a Middle Eastern-flavored rising arpeggio and queasy bass that is joined by a heavily processed guitar lick. And while previous work has displayed a slightly lo-fi aesthetic in terms of mixdown, this is highly polished work, with each element sitting pretty amongst impressive detailing. Fans of vintage Italo disco and 80s soundtracks will certainly be enamored with the perfectly rendered vintage drum sounds used in the track’s later stages. By proxy, “Vessel Dogs” is an even more relaxed proposition. The samples used include dusty wah-wah funk guitar and a lilting harp that sits tightly against a classic half step beat, nudging the track along with an understated poise. Perhaps what stands out most about this release, however, is that Guido manages to use elements which in lesser hands would be rather overwhelming — harsh synth leads, wobble bass — and meld them into something both beguiling and compulsive. A very strong release from one of the best-kept secrets in the bass spectrum.