Tom Demac Little Bits That Matter EP
Both for those who hopped on once “Critical Distance Pt. 2” landed and the people […]
Both for those who hopped on once “Critical Distance Pt. 2” landed and the people who’ve been following the ventures of Tom Demac for years now, it’s good news that the London producer has effectively closed out his stellar year with yet another solid EP, Little Bits That Matter.
Over the course of 2012, Demac has carved a space for himself directly between the concurrent rise of house and bass music. Though it was likely more of a coincidence than something Demac plotted to achieve, it’s hard to deny that Demac’s sound is well suited for cross-genre appeal—his heavy constructions are intelligent and adventurous enough to keep the home-listening beard-strokers interested while also being immensely robust and full of dancefloor power. On “Little Bits That Matter,” Demac goes so far as to include a vocal collaborator into the fold, one Phil Kay, who delivers an appropriately withheld vocal performance that glides along the somewhat gloomy production in a bath of muttered phrases. In tandem with Kay’s voice, Demac cultivates a contemplative atmosphere, but doesn’t neglect to implement the solid rhythmic and low-end components which have marked his recent run of tunes. Still, despite its rolling momentum and powerful bassline, “Little Bits That Matter” doesn’t try to repeat the big-tune dramatics of “Critical Distance Pt. 2”; it’s a more reserved piece of work that instead demonstrates a greater depth to Demac’s production talents.
Joining “Little Bits That Matter” on the a-side is “Tanners,” a disco-sampling slice of skipping house that picks up the energy a bit and again showcases Demac’s proficiency in the low-end realm. Building from its filter-house-esque beginnings, “Tanners” eventually kicks into full force when Demac unfolds an absolute gem of a bassline that hops around the jacking groove with just the right touch of movement.
Really, the a-side cuts deserve the emphasis here; final offering “Rain of Colours” is a decent enough tune, but it seems more likely that listeners starting with “Little Bits That Matter” and “Tanners” will bring the needle back to the beginning more often than they flip the record over.