Melbourne-based producer Andras Fox (A.r.t. Wilson) creates a tactile and unique form of antipodean funk that feels equally informed by garage house and new age musical traditions. His productions sound appropriate on both the dance floor and in the lounge, boasting a casual danceability and mood that seamlessly adapts to both environs. On Vibrate On Silent, Wilson creates g-funk with a surf sensibility; congas, shakers, electro-acoustic melodies coalesce with deep grooves, subtle hooks and a laid-back, oceanic ambience.
Wilson’s arrangements are spacious and deceptively simple – layers are built up and stripped down, with the rhythm track providing a solid framework for jazzy/improvised flourishes. Opener “Ankle Snapper” begins with a politely funky bass line, adding handclaps and a casual house beat that is gradually adorned with cowbell and midi-saxophone. “Pontoon” pushes the g-funk agenda further, coming across like Dr. Dre driving top-down along the Great Ocean Road. Elsewhere, “Driftwood” and “Mystic Beach” allude to Wilson’s prior dabblings in new age – incorporating digital pan-flutes, piano and meditative synths which bubble and swirl like waves meeting a sandy shore.
Mexican Summer