London producer and Deep Medi mainstay Solomon Rose (better known as Silkie) has been offering up his twist on the dubstep genre for some time now. A familiar rhythm always underpins the approach (even when tackling different tempos) but Silkie's love of G-Funk era noodling and glistening bass have become his personal trademark.
With 'Fractals', this trademark has been exploited brazenly, with varying degrees of success. Conceptually the record feels more solid than the previous two, but it still doesn't quite manage to hold your attention for the full 50-odd minutes. At times the wailing synth leads hit the spot but too often the saccharine approach is all a bit much. 'Love Affair' has the charismatic charm of a DâM-FunK track that has been expertly re-sprayed and polished but tracks like 'Arcada' labour the point for a minute longer than needed.
That said, the way Silkie puts his tracks together is certainly accomplished. Nearly every element sits right at the top of the mix and yet rarely does it feel cluttered. This does however mean that there's not much in the way of depth. If you're looking for subtle background details and atmospherics you'll be left wanting, but where you may find delight is in the tight shifting drum patterns, particularly towards the second half of the album.
Perhaps the most electric energy comes on 'Swank', with it's pounding kicks and darting snare patterns reminiscent of Hudson Mohawke but with more composure, and 'Entrapment' builds on a clattering groove that paves the way for some audacious roaming arpeggios. These grooves are what made dubstep great in the first place – a point today's cookie cutter producers so often miss.
'Fractals' may be a lot more colourful and syrupy than the likes of Mala or even Skream but don't let that fool you, Silkie is clinging on to the crux of the genre in his own way. The only question is whether you have a sweet enough tooth for a sugar-coated version.
6/10
Words: Jack Dolan
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