Pages

Monday 22 August 2011

John Heckle - The Second Son

John Heckle's album The Second Son was released on Jamal Moss' Mathematics Label at the end of last month. It's completely astounding.

The tracks are well varied, from Moroder-esque driving euphoria to tripped out house, seriously sick acid synth lines, library music-esque chillers and the fiercest beats you never heard on FHXE. What all the tracks have in common is their powerfully raw immediacy. It's engulfing, hypnotic and moreish, but the best thing about it is the roughly hewn sound - messy, insistent and powerfully visceral.

There's a nod to Little Louie in one of the early tracks, excited female breathing and a slow down speed up a la French Kiss, and the FXHE comparison already made, but whilst influences are felt across the album they're not calling the shots. With not a single weak moment, this is an absolute stormer of an album, varied but coherent and rich enough to satisfy listen after listen (in my case, one straight after the other).

Basically, it's well boss, go listen to it.