Review of Pipe Dream by Sim
We have a talented new producer by the name of SIMMS from North West London who recently released his debut “Traversal Tapes” on the new multi-genre record label Passionfruit Records.
“Traversal Tapes” features a large amount of atmospheric, uplifting and ambient jungle sounds, with this review looking at a track bang in the middle of the track listing, “Pipe Dream”.
The track begins with a solitary major-sounding chord, some distant customary bird singing and a three-note uplifting synth melody; a bouncy, nicely crafted and thoughtfully syncopated breakbeat pulsates away before dropping out for a soothing and thought-provoking pre-drop where a trance-like piano riff plays.
An MC Det sounding MC shouts “Where’s The Noise?” leading up to a tight, disciplined and lightly sustained Amen, which kicks out over a short attack, bouncy and perky low-mid sub-bassline. Piano riffs and a recurring synth melody roll away, providing a harmonic hue to the sound whilst the Amen break chugs away, occasionally through filter, phase and displacement.
This vibe feels like a 1995 Moving Shadow/Good Looking Records sound, intelligent, if you will. Spatial harmonisation and musicality are preferred over attitude, breakbeat rinsing and hypnotic groove however, this track has plenty of rhythmic dynamism to get your body moving.
Throughout the track, a noticeably slightly dissonant alarm-style synth clashing against the pads and piano riffs; it has a pleasing quality about it, leaving a feeling of unease and tension where, if it were omitted, the track would probably suffer from being too nicey-nicey and predictable. This is jungle, not everything is meant to be an episode of The Waltons!
