»Elevate Me«, the latest EP by Sweatson Klank, starts out in a surprisingly British way. If it wasn’t for the soul- and r&b influences in the second half of »Always You«, one could have almost forgotten that Thomas Wilson is an American. In the spheres of »Low End Theory« and Brainfeeder in Los Angeles, he has already made a name for himself as a beatmaker and DJ under the name of Take. Hence, »Elevate Me«, his first EP for Project: Mooncircle, is some kind of emancipation from his roots socialized in HipHop. The second track, »Own«, is also shaped by the club-sound from this side of the Atlantic. You can hardly blame those first two tracks, they are well thought out and well produced; but for me, those elaborate sounds are just a little too calculated and the general impression is just a little too »clean«. As quickly as this effect-constructed music captures the listener, it releases you again. To make it short: I like the b-side better. Not only because he doesn’t try to obstruct his roots anymore, but especially because everything is just rawer and a bit more sketchy. And that’s exactly, what makes this »wonky« sound worthwhile. »I Can’t Explain« is based on not much more then an off-the-cuff HipHop-beat and an atmospheric r&b-sample. »My Love Is Here« celebrates a funk-beat and adds some psyche-elements to it, which were originally made by a synthesizer or an e-guitar, all accompanied by a vocal soul-sample. It’s definitively the record’s highlight. »In Between« then closes the bracket around the a-side, tries to be cool by its decelerate style, but has unfortunately lost all its easiness through trying to be too unconditional.
Elevate Me
