FLYING LOTUS
Big Mama (Brainfeeder)
Sometimes you can judge a book – or in this case a long-awaited new EP by one of the leading producers of his time – by its cover. Maximalist, garish, cartoonish, everything everywhere all at once. Big Mama’s track titles alone will give you a flavour of what’s in store: Horse Nuke for example. Straight out the traps you have glorious surging synths reminiscent of peak FlyLo followed by drum programming so frenetic as to make most IDMers hand in their P45s.
To give Flying Lotus his due, the guy understands dynamics, and following the cannon-shoot of the opener you get Captain Kernel, a (comparatively) slow-burner full of tension and release.
To give Flying Lotus his due, the guy understands dynamics, and following the cannon-shoot of the opener you get Captain Kernel, a (comparatively) slow-burner full of tension and release. The remainder of the EP follows suit: mad, Danny Elfman/Ren & Stimpy-esque dive-bombers occasionally, fleetingly, interspersed with luscious ambient pads and washes. A highpoint has to be In The Forest – Day: sounding like a modern-day Palestrina, it takes counterpoint to glorious new heights. The most fun 13 minutes you’ll have all year.
words ADAM JONES
