SubtractiveLAD: "Bay"

Trust a plug-in developer to come up with some of the most divine electronica of the decade. Stephen Hummel, the man whose childhood was spent learning BASIC programming and Tangerine Dream LPs, has released no less than seven albums since being unearthed by Mike Cadoo in 2005. In that time, his SubtractiveLAD alter-ego has become the jewel in n5MD’s crown, hooked stylistically into every other artist doing “emotional experiments” for the label. This year Hummel became a father, and so emotionally he’s on a big trip right now—there’s no greater feeling for men, except maybe passing your driving test or igniting fireworks. His new state of mind finds its way into his music without too much discomfort (i.e. he’s toned down the electric guitar ideas that many fans classed as treason), and album #8 looks set to secure another spotlight in the n5MD gallery. SubtractiveLAD is on a winning streak here. He’s even resisted the temptation to sample his newborn’s first cries over ambience, which is a good thing, as there’s no greater distraction from emotional experiments than hearing a tot say “Tits please” in baby-speak.

Kindred‘s immediate stick-out tune is “Bay,” which, like the majority of the artist’s/the label’s discography, is music for watching northern lights to, though northern lights on TV. It whooshes straight into a mellow synth line, which undulates slowly enough to soften the crunches of ’80s casualty guitar, then morphs into Joe Satriani in his Silver Surfer phase if he’d been hijacked by Brian Eno (who dispenses with things like sessions musicians in favour of melting sirens—good call). Hummel’s sedated groaning and a runaway dance high-hat then pick up the baton, and jog very slowly with it towards a seven minute finish line, where the track fades in layers, like waves over sand. I don’t know if programmers ever go to the beach, but when Hummel’s expanded family first start hankering for a day out, he should drive them to the coast and play this, having first prepared food and good speakers. The tempo might be a little faster than the tide, but it’s still just as relaxing. And sewage free!