False Image – Phantom Bliss [Get Physical Music]
False Image has released a quality EP on Get Physical Music, which is an absolute powerhouse of a label (seriously, go watch a Booka Shade live set). A blend of space-age tech-house, False Image has a unique sound that in many ways has a lot going for it, but also has its weaknesses.
Phantom Bliss is a wonderfully unique track combining ambient pads, synths with a very tight and crunchy tone, and interesting percussive styling, especially where rhythm is involved. Some instruments are just a little behind the beat to give the track an interesting double soul-clap sound. The breakdown is a little unimaginative, but the groove during the main portions is tight and sounds great through good speakers. Groundwater is unfortunately a lot less imaginative, and while the bass-line (almost wobble-bass) is very well done, the track doesn’t seem to vary enough to stay interesting. It’s well produced, but repeats the same ideas far too much to be considered a great track. Finally, Derek Marin’s remix of Phantom Bliss is a heavily layered production that has some great percussion ideas. If you listen really carefully, you can hear call-and-repeat percussion instruments in the background that give the track its groove and catchiness. The synths are a bit derivative, but their tone is nice, and the reverb behind them give the track “big room” capabilities. Check this release out.
