The Hypnosis EP, the third full release from Bristolian newcomer El Kid, is a remarkably self-assured collection. Spanning dubstep and dub infused house and techno, the four tracks all wend their way around exotic subliminal territories, slow-burning, twisted infusions that make for a rather impressive calling card. Finding “pure” dubstep — that is, music which equals the 2004 spirit of wild experimentation rather than mere floor fodder — is rare these days, but opening track “Hypnosis” is a beautifully warped proposition: resolutely dubstep while remaining completely musically forward. Echo chamber pads join a mournful guitar line while a submersed kick and snare combination break through slowly. The layers build gently — a low synth grunt, a decisive snare, a collection of well-placed beeps — and the final effect is at once mollifying and, well, hypnotic.
“Mud” is an more introspective offering which hinges on a sludgy 4/4 rhythm combined with loose, oscillating synth notes and a prominent sub pattern. Restrained old-school pad samples are warped almost beyond recognition into a haunting melody, while crisply engineered claps and reverberating hats offer rhythmic support — it’s psychedelic, tropical and engaging. By contrast, “Kachinja” is the most driving offering on this EP. A booming 4/4 and nuanced hat pattern drop into a semi-industrial headspace where tribal fills and filtered metallic white noise converge on good terms. Closing the set is a Walton dub of the title track which completely flips the original atmospherics into a peak-time, somewhat tropical party tune that would not sound out of place on Blunted Robots, replete with steel drum samples. Altogether, this marks an engaging release that will appeal to a broad spectrum — one that certainly highlights a talent to watch in 2012.
