Shoal

Deep and hypnotic. That pretty much sums up the new Nacreous-EP by Shoal on the Dutch imprint NOWHERE. The title refers to a certain glow or color that mother-of-pearl radiates. Shoal is the alter ego of Utrecht-resident Kenny Dean Kneefel. When you have a name that sounds like a famous stuntman, you are probably prepared to take more risks.

And indeed that's exactly what this producer from the lowlands does on Nacreous. Shoal's four track EP combines hallucinant grooves with delicate sound design. Like on Bygone Drums, where ominous distant sounds from a nearby factory creep between the shadows. The same can be said of the title track, a tribalistic tune with a delicate dark undertone.

Never Endings is more uplifting, with its dubbed out basslines and crispy hi-hats. Dubtechno that reminds us of both Monolake and Fluxion. Closing track Morning Float is indeed that, a trip in a blue tank filled with warm water, where you are comforted by beautiful strings and sounds of nature.

• 1 Bygone Drums
• 2 Never Endings
• 3 Nacreous
• 4 Morning Float