Kowton
– Utility (Livity Sound)
LP
/ DL
Out
Now
7.5
/ 10
British techno artist releases his debut album.
Utility could be one of those albums that is
looked back on as being influential in its genre. Joe Cowton (aka Kowton) has assembled an
album of near instrumental tracks which are both hypnotic and repetitive at the
same time as being distinctly addictive.
Fusing both the Bristol trio-hop sound with
Detroit techno he rattles through heavy bass and the occasional reverb in
tracks which will instil some sort of movement along the human form. Kowton is no stranger to music, born in
Grasmere before eventually settling in Peckham via the South West he cut his
teeth with the Jockey Slut and Muzik magazines before entering the techno
scene.
A stint at music college in Manchester has also
served him well as his ability to construct some fine tunes is easy to
see. A move to Bristol in 2008 saw
Kowton add a greater House feel to his techno repertoire and the sound that
Utility contains today was born.
From the opener Comments Off a feel of
simplicity is achieved as few sounds and beats combine, but the overall feel is
one of life and incredibly listenable. Frantic
but disciplined percussion with well-timed electronic blips, and little
else. But, it is effective.
Balance sounds like a speeded-up modern day
water torture, and album highlight, Sleep Chamber like a mish-mash of N.E.R.D.
and Leftfield as the title is read endlessly over a hissing beat before sharp
percussion and a gurgle of a bassline.
There is an air of pervading duplication about
Utility, several sounds and beats continue throughout and it brings a sense of
familiarity rather than boredom. Loops 1
is mesmerising to say the least, and album closer Shots Fired employs additional
sounds and gentle effects that serve as a delicate close to a short but mainly enjoyable
nine-track trip.
Links
Livity Sound
Kowton on Soundcloud
Kowton on Twitter
Kowton on Facebook
Published on Louder Than War 30 April 2016 - here
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