Culture

(3/5)
The debut release from fresh-faced 20-year-old Mancunian producer Sam Walton (aka Walton), the simple titled Walton EP finds Hyperdub producing yet another clinical yet widely experimental EP.
 
Effortlessly blending genres from UK Garage to an almost relaxed post-dubstep vibe, Walton taps into a musical influence he, and likely most of his listeners, were too young to experience. On opener ‘Aggy’, hyperactive and repetitive synths are mashed with off-kilter glitchy beats before the track somehow smoothly drops into a Zomby-styled chromatic and textured chorus. With a heavy focus on repetition (not to be confused with a lack of development or ideas), Walton manages to construct inherently interesting soundscapes, his interesting samples and heavily processed timbres enough to hold the listener’s attention.
 
‘808 Vybzin’ sees a more relaxed and less schizophrenic approach, its background Eighties’ pads and sensual hi-hat easily the most danceable element here. With its reverbed snare clicks and descending loops reminiscent of Tekken 5’s battle music (not an insult, I swear) the track’s relative safety bodes well for the possibility of wider dance-club success in future. Closing the brief EP, ‘Skrilla’ is the weakest track, but even it still manages to contain enough interest to remain inoffensive, its highly filtered synth line providing a sweet hook. A small sampler but packed with some great ideas showing Hyperdub is ahead of the curve, grab Walton at his young and inexperienced stage.