[Apollo]

Manchester-based Synkro has released a stream of electrically emotive tracks spanning most corners and tempo ranges of the bass spectrum, ably plowing the tempting ground between dark, sexy, and foreboding with maturity and drama. His latest EP is well placed on R&S offshoot Apollo Records, an imprint reserved for sleek excursions away from the floor and very much the baby of R&S founder Renaat Vandepapeliere. Here Synkro tunes into his most introspective side to fine effect, with four easy-rolling, late-night jams. “Broken Promise” is slow-motion house — a hazy 4/4 leading a winning combination of lush synth, miniscule percussion edits, and a beautiful piano line. “Why Don’t You” is a moodier proposition, crackling, dark garage bedded on fizzing echo and a sleazy vocal wondering, “why don’t you, baby?” There are also funk guitar snippets and a couple of enticing Herbie Hancock-style leads half hidden.

“Memories Of Love” continues the submerged garage theme to fine effect, although also adding bubbling synth oscillations and the obligatory cut-up R&B vocal. Granted, this is not the most original of tracks, but there is something deeply charming and rather old fashioned about it. I can well imagine it happily nestling in the middle of a late-90s Kruder & Dorfmeister mix CD. The best is saved for last in the form of “Knowledge,” a seven-minute epic that draws in tribal fills, spoken samples, and a deep-space vibe to a heavy low-end rumble. Synkro has delivered a smorgasbord of delectable beats here, ones useful for very early or very late doors, set closing, and home listening. A well-rounded and understated treat, this EP set goes to show that functional does not always equal thumping.