It's been quite some time since we've heard from SBTRKT. His eponymous debut LP was quite well received, but showed the producer moving away from the instrumental style of his initial releases for labels like Brainmath and his own SBTRKT imprint. Needless to say he's left us hanging for the past few years, especially fans of his earlier work. All that being said SBTRKT has popped up out of nowhere with a timely morsel of an EP to tide us over until a proper album is released. The six track EP, Transitions, is strictly instrumental, hewing closer to the aforementioned early work. The instrumentals allow SBTRKT's productions to take center stage and show some developments in his sound. The songs take a less commercial sounding approach than SBTRKT, as he plays more with space and restraint. There's still plenty of bass and off kilter rhythms. It's all paired with shimmering atmospherics that give the tracks personality beyond the beats. Transitions will definitely tide over any fan that's been hungry for new material from SBTRKT. Die-cut sleeve features artwork and 2D Moiré animation by frequent SBTRKT visual collaborator A Hidden Place. Transitions I, II & III available individually, as well as a special 3x 12" pack available only at Turntable Lab.

• music label: Young Turks 2014

reviewed by Le Haim 07/2014

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