Toby Gale – Starfruit EP

The debut release from this South London producer is an admirably concise affair: over four tracks, totalling only 12 minutes, Gale flits rapidly through realms also explored by producers like Rustie and Starkey: a synth-heavy, funk-driven mutation of contemporary bass rhythms dominates, but there are also hints at a dreamy, fuzzier approach on opener 15 Love. 

The standout is Cool Car (also given a rather unadventurous remix here, courtesy of Mr Mitch), a glossy blend of twinkling samples, staccato breaks and reverb-heavy snares. In its brevity, the EP is inevitably somewhat slight, but Starfruit is nonetheless a promising statement of intent. [Sam Wiseman]