Heterotic – Weird Drift

Album Review by Bram E. Gieben | 08 Apr 2014
Album title: Weird Drift
Artist: Heterotic
Label: Planet Mu
Release date: 21 Apr

It's scarcely a year since Heterotic released their debut Love & Devotion, combining the production talents of Mu boss Mike Paradinas and wife Lara Rix-Martin with Warp's Gravenhurst – now they return with French singer and producer Vezelay for a second album. From the Tangerine Dream-like synth arpeggios and subtle techno kicks and snares of opener Self-Importance, Heterotic have tightened and polished their project – Vezelay's contributions, referencing ethereal RnB and some surprisingly cheesy 80s synth-pop, come off remarkably well, playing like the soundtrack from some futuristic lothario's high-tech boudoir, which is presumably the point.

The muted, bass-heavy, footwork-like beats of Boxes make it a standout, as do the distorted 808s of the growling, breathily-voiced Lumber. Even Sultana's saccharine-sweet retro-futuristic elevator muzak totally works. The sunny post-dubstep of Florence is a highlight – there's more than enough quality here to mark Heterotic as a project worth continuing – perhaps Paradinas' most melodic guise to date. [Bram E. Gieben]

http://soundcloud.com/heterotic