Category Archives: Switched On

Switched On – Footshooter: The Oasis (Tru Thoughts)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

Footshooter is South London-based producer and DJ Barney Whittaker. He describes his first album for the Tru Thoughts label as “a collection of moods from the last three years. As with all my projects, collaboration and sharing is at the heart of it.”

Music is Whittaker’s oasis, and always in the spirit of collaboration – which explains the plethora of artists appearing on this album. Under his Footshooter alias Whittaker operates in a number of musical styles, providing supple instrumental music that the vocalists can bend and shape into their own.

What’s the music like?

The great thing about Footshooter’s music is that it refuses to be pinned down, moving easily between different styles while retaining its identity.

The guests are really well deployed, especially Ezra Collective saxophonist James Mollison. He adds a brilliant solo part to the broken beat of Cycles, while Surrey Canal Road is a mellow yet descriptive musical portrait in his hands.

Obelisk enjoys a distinctive vocal pairing from Natty Wylah and brother portrait, while the excellent Boomerang dresses Ehireme Omoaka’s spoken word with a fine trumpet solo from Wilf Petherbridge. Wilf appears later on Parc de Belleville, this time his solo laced with a bittersweet melancholy.

Folding could easily be heard by a pool in the Mediterranean, but it’s an emotive track too, complementing an expansive piano line with sultry yet deeply felt vocals from Allysha Joy. Here To Learn moves a bit more towards deep house, in the company of a lithe vocal from Andre Espeut, but then Sermon steps back for contemplation in the company of Sara El Harrak.

Does it all work?

It does – The Oasis is nicely structured, and inhabits a place of positive musical energy.

Is it recommended?

Enthusiastically. It isn’t an exaggeration to call Footshooter a visionary producer, and the way he has written for the wide range of contributors on this record shows how versatile he is. A vibrant album.

For fans of… Joe Armon Jones, Seven Davis Jr., Jazzanova, Moodymann

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Published post no.2,532 – Wednesday 14 May 2025

Switched On – Various Artists: InFiné Ambient (InFiné)

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What’s the story?

InFiné have been extending their reach with a clutch of interesting digital compilations of late, including Club InFiné and InFiné Rewind 2024.

The French label is largely known for its experimental strands, but they have a far musical reach – as this cosmopolitan ambient collection shows.

What’s the music like?

The mix immediately reaches its goals through the soft beats of Murcof and the beautiful sounds of Brian Eno refracted through the piano of Bruce Brubaker, whose take on Music For Airports 2/1 will soothe any fevered brow. The same can be said for Vanessa Wagner’s piano, Struggle For Pleasure viewed through the hazy viewfinder of GAS.

There are some long form ambient epics here too, in the form of Gaspar Claus with the slightly disquieting Inside, and an epic take on Carl Craig’s At Les from Abul Mogard. Elsewhere Loscil takes the slowly oscillating piano of Murcof x Wagner’s Avril 14th (Aphex Twin), opening it out in timeless widescreen. The track leads seamlessly into Cubenx’s Human Dilemma.

Does it all work?

It does indeed, especially when experienced as a 13-track whole. As a bonus, if you visit the compilation’s Bandcamp page you get helpful biographies of all the ambiently inclined InFiné composers and musicians.

Is it recommended?

Very much so. InFiné know exactly what they’re doing with this compilation, providing aural balm whenever the listener needs it.

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Published post no.2,527 – Thursday 8 May 2025

Switched On – Silver Y: In The Depths (Bytes)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

Silver Y is the name under which Sicilian instrumentalist and vocalist Laura Caviglia operates.

In The Depths is a concept album ending in death, but its message is more one of meditation than of darkness. In the words of the press release, it “revolves around the theme of identity loss (Rest Home, Shadow, Self), explores the various stages of coma (Stupor, Sopor) and culminates in death (In The Depths). The closing track, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, was conceived as a sort of prayer inspired by the Buddhist mantra of the same name.”

Laura describes it as a way of finding peace beyond suffering, an “alternation of light and darkness that, if truly understood, can be experienced as complete light”.

What’s the music like?

In The Depths was written with three analogue synthesizers, drum machine and MIDI keyboard – so has its roots strongly in electronic music.

Yet with the addition of Caviglia’s vocals it becomes something very powerful and striking, taking a healthy influence from the likes of Cocteau Twins and even more uptempo Massive Attack to complement its subject matter.

As Caviglia says, the light ultimately wins through, but to do this a certain amount of strife has to be experienced. Stupor has impressive presence, but Sopor becomes a twisted, large-scale torch song, an impressive achievement indeed.

In The Depths has a moody beauty before the stately grandeur of the finale, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, provides a moment to gaze upon the stars.

Does it all work?

It does – Silver Y goes deep but comes up with the answers too.

Is it recommended?

Yes – a less beat-driven affair than some previous releases on Bytes, but a compelling one that ends ultimately in a peaceful triumph.

For fans of… Cocteau Twins, Massive Attack, Lush, Spiritualized

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Published post no.2,526 – Wednesday 7 May 2025

Switched On – Lawrence Hart: Come In Out Of The Rain (Double Six)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

Lawrence Hart enjoyed a roundabout route to his debut album. From the age of five he was learning the piano; fast forward to 15 and he was studying jazz trumpet at SUNY Purchase in New York.

More recently he has explored electronic music writing, supported by close friend and Domino labelmate George FitzGerald. Hart already has an impressive history of releases on labels including Hotflush, Attack Decay Sweet Release and LG105, but now he releases a debut album he describes as an ‘emotional garage record, euphoric and therapeutic’.

What’s the music like?

Hart writes from the heart, you could say – and the result is a record that acts like an exploding sweet. By that I mean that everything on the surface is as it should be – strong production, tight structures, good tunes – but that once you start getting into each track there are clear emotional threads, sudden and euphoric highs, thrilling beats and an approach to music that speaks of pure enjoyment.

Out Of The Rain is excellent, with a real spring in its step and big room hooks, while Just Belong has an equally strong rush. Fucking Mega piles up beats to thrilling effect, while NoMoreLuv4u is a pulsating gem of a groove.

The vocals are often helium-inflected but to really good effect, layered up in the likes of Love U Bring to complement the clipped beats and spacious, big room textures.

Does it all work?

It does. There is no messing about, no padding, just straight ahead musical thrills and a love of dancing. Hart takes in older garage influences but makes it all sound freshly painted.

Is it recommended?

Very much so – thrills and spills to be had on a record full of feeling and positive energy.

For fans of… Jamie xx, James Blake, Wookie, Todd Edwards

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Published post no.2,521 – Saturday 3 May 2025

Switched On – Andrea Cichecki: Drawn Into The Edge Effect (Castles In Space)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

The music of Andrea Cichecki speaks of the great outdoors, the environment she now calls home having moved after years of city life.

Each of the nine tracks tells a personal story, the music complemented by field recordings made in the Ore Mountains and Saxon Switzerland, designed to further the immersive listening experience.

What’s the music like?

The season of spring courses through Cichecki’s music, which teems with life and hope. The lush textures of A Lost Memory are a case in point, where the warm keyboard sounds build up in layers, melodies swirling towards a greater whole. The lush textures are beautifully managed.

Cichecki uses no drums but generates plenty of momentum on tracks like Choosing Paths and Diffused Reflection Of Yourself, both a hive of activity with melodic loops bubbling up in lively counterpoint. The Edge Effect is the musical equivalent of looking at the bright light of a new morning, with dappled, treble-rich textures.

A Tale Not Everyone Knows is poised and rather beautiful, while the expanse of tracks like Naked Animal and Different Step is enhanced by the field recordings.

Does it all work?

It does. Cichecki’s music has an inner serenity and brightness that give it an immediate appeal.

Is it recommended?

Very much so. This is music to soothe the fevered brow, but through its ambience there is also an inner energy that provides a great deal of positivity. Andrea Cichecki makes music to enhance and energise!

For fans of… Matthewdavid, M83, Julianna Barwick, Ulrich Schnauss, Jon Hopkins

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Published post no.2,514 – Friday 25 April 2025