Zomby – Nothing EP

Nothing is a rather perverse collector's item: a slightly underwhelming Zomby record. Although billed as a breakbeat-assisted companion piece to Dedication, Zomby's second release for 4AD lacks the depth of ideas and clarity of execution so abundant on his second album. Opening the seven track EP on initially promising terms is Labyrinth, a slo-mo crawl of 90s hardcore that, along with Ecstacy Versions' starlit shards of drum and bass, are fine additions to his estimable back catalogue.

Much else on Nothing, decent though it is, seems like the hastily fashioned results of a producer recycling his own ideas; Digital Fractal is, basically, a below-par rendition of his 2009 release for Brainmath, Digital Flora, and there's a lingering déjà-vu to the galloping arpeggios of Equinox, too. Nothing is a stumble, but Zomby still strides ahead of the horde, even on off-days.