UPFRONTBEATS

Josh Baker joins the roster of Ben Rau’s Meta imprint this November with his ‘Swift Eviction’ EP, featuring four originals from the Mancunian artist.

UK based producer and DJ Josh Baker has been steadily honing his craft over the past few years, releasing material on the likes of Adult Only and Hedzup whilst playing at the likes of Parklife festival and The Warehouse Project on his home turf of Manchester as well as hosting his own You&Me events in the city and playing hotspots like Pikes Ibiza, Mint Club, Leeds and more across the globe.

Here though we see him deliver his latest works for Ben Rau’s fledgling Meta imprint, sub-label of Inkal and home to material from the label-founder himself both solo and collaboratively with Rhymos, and the label debut from Ray Mono.Title-track ‘Swift Eviction’ leads with a skippy, swinging drums grooves, swirling synth textures, snaking subs and vacillating vocal murmurs before the focal stages introduce a choppy organ melody to carry the groove throughout. ‘Box Of Beats’ follows, laying focus on an arpeggio bass lead, tension building atmospherics and brooding low-pitched vocal lines while modulating percussion and a robust rhythmic drive keeps things dance floor oriented.

Opening the flip side is ‘Everything Together’ edging things into deeper territories with ethereal chords, organic drums and an acid-tinged bass lead at the forefront alongside spoken word vocal lines. ‘Buuky’ then shapes up the package, laying focus on crunchy off-kilter drums, resonant synth flutters and airy strings.

• FB: facebook.com/joshbakerdj
• Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/joshbakerdj
• Beatport: beatport.com/artist/josh-baker/597279