That bass bothering Philadelphian, Starkey, returns with a second album that finds the producer continuing to follow and play up to that current trend permeating contemporary pop, indie and dance music: an obsession with all things ’80s. Fortunately, Starkey’s interpretations of that garish era come laden with multi-layered, heady melody and vocal tracks cut up to no small amount of groove.
Built for dancefloors and home stereos alike, ‘Ear Drums And Black Holes’ demonstrates an aural growth within the genres Starkey inhabits and his skills as producer. Denser than predecessor ‘Ephemeral Exhibits’, thriving amongst a veritable thicket of texture, ‘Ear Holes And Black Holes’ is exactly the type of popular record dubstep has been threatening to deliver.
8/10
Words by Ash Akhtar
