Slinky by The Fear Ratio
Experimental rhythms and old-skool Rap wrapped with a cold IDM ribbon
Be it cathartic, methodical or an obligatory sanity check, the minds of Mark Broom and James Ruskin have been quietly meeting as The Fear Ratio for over a decade, periodically surfacing with a form of electronic music that's not Techno or House (i.e. the usual shape of their celebrated output). This time, on their fourth album, they've introduced vocals from English rapper King Kashmere and a subtle chopped-up treatment from Ella Fleur on Lacovset.
The two Kashmere tracks are actually the album highlights, adding a sense of reality that's gritty and righteous, with a rapping style that carries an endearing old-skool air. That same spirit bleeds into the instrumentals, darkening the skittering beats and drawing a long shadow over the irregular, bass-heavy rhythms. L10 is like Modeselektor (chunky and tuneful) while STMS nods to Plaid (ethereal electronica). More experimental cuts, like Appi and the title track bring balance to what is largely a melody-heavy album. It's crying out for a third Kashmere track towards the end though.