A collaborative album from [[]]togethermachine and @prtr_jan, Inner City Groove, Vol. 1 channels a diverse electronic sound with eclectic stylistic flair. There’s an atmospheric pull throughout, nocturnal and gloomy though also with a lushly entrancing quality, bolstered by frequent use of serenely enveloping synth pads.
The album achieves a sense of atmospheric cohesion, emitting a sort of late-night allure, despite a diverse stylistic presentation. “Aye!” touts a dancefloor-ready beat with charismatic vocal sample pulses and a house-ready vigor. Elsewhere, “Fresh Air” caresses with gentle keys and robotic vocal flourishes, showing a more mellow and retrospective composure. “Pitch Black” also entrances, touting (as its name would imply) a darker enigma through industrial bass tones and murky effects.
[[]]togethermachine is the project of drummer Marcel van As, based in Rotterdam. Antwerp-based artist @prtr_jan contributes his talents with loops and other atmospheric additions, his iPad-forward expertise on full display. Both artists wrote, played, and arranged the album, which is streaming below:
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“Fresh Air” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of April 2022’ Spotify playlist.
