Keef Baker - The Widnes Years
Dec 2, 18:17 by Stefan KoopmanschapFrom the acclaimed label n5MD comes the debut of UK artist Keef Baker. Since n5MD has been the home of many of the world’s best artists (think Spark, Proem, Quench, Tim Koch, Portland and many more), it is a known fact that Keef Baker is the new up- and coming star. From the moment the first sounds start, it is clear that n5MD have found yet another great artist.
The first track, Bingo Hall Murders, gives a good preview of what you can expect from the album. Beautiful laidback melodies, combined with frantic rhythms. Laidback, yet aggressive. Frantic and soothing. But above all: Beautiful. Keef Baker makes the different elements fit together as if it’s always been this way.
One of my favorite tracks off this album is the second track Castrovalva, which features beautiful choirs with a great distorted downtempo rhythm. Definately a headnodder.
Another great track is Armed Snobbery, which has a slightly epic feel to it. Beautiful sounds and great banging rhythms combine. Again that great combination of dreamy melodies with harsh rhythms that is so typical for the music that Keef makes. However, Armed Snobbery evolves into a sort of housey track which speeds up and up and up until distorted rhythms take over. And then the track breaks down again and leaves you with beautiful melodies again.
Keef Baker shows with his debut album that IDM need not be boring. Though a big part of the IDM world got stuck in the same effects, software and sound, Keef Baker brings a refreshing sound to our ears. Beautiful melodies and harsh rhythms. A recommendation!
Released on n5MD
See also: Keef Baker website