Tuesday 29 January 2013


Whilst browsing local artists on Soundcloud, you can never quite anticipate the level of quality, in tracks. The first thing I noticed about this exciting, new, Electronica artist, was his impressive back catalogue, which to me, signifies something very special.

S-P-E-LLS, is a Bristol producer and DJ. For the most part, his music is focused on electro/house. However, his collected works also experiment with Dubstep, Drum and Bass and a nice blend of more soulful, ambient tracks. This guy is weaving his way in and out of genres, like it’s nobody’s business, fashioning a very bold and multi-disciplinarily, approach to electronic music.

After bopping your way through the first two or three tracks, his dynamic and versatile style, begins to grow on you, immensely. First you are introduced to glimmers of light and bouncy house music, only for it to be turned on its head- throwing you into the deep, dark, abyss of filthy, raw, dubstep.

With a lot of Electronic artists, the core focus and attention, has always been on introducing something new -cementing your own sound in the scene, paving the way for new artists. Skrillex, did exactly that. He bought something new with him, and developed a very special kind of electronic music, leaving behind a huge gaping hole, for new artists to come and do the same. Providing the fundamentals of electronic music are applied -engaging and connecting with people’s brain waves – then the creative process, certainly becomes the most exciting part. The creativity is when the artist is really called into action.

S-P-E-LLS will surprise you at any given moment. Whilst some of his tracks may seem quite generic, others leap across to the other side of the electronica continuum. Some of his stuff sounds very industrial and raw - A very welcomed versatile approach to electronic music, similar to that of Canadian Indietronica artist, ‘Grimes'.

Another great thing about S-P-E-LLS, is that he doesn’t bore with you with too much obscurity or pretentiousness, like some new artists are trying to do. Every track makes you want to dance and every sound or sample has a purpose, in the direction of the song.

He collaborates with a number of artists, that bring something new to the table and offer a classic sound. I think with electronic music, it’s important to look back as well as looking forward and this is something that S-P-E-L-L-S does really well, particularly with the drum and bass. There’s nothing too risky or over the top about it, but he keeps it nice and subtle. I love it!

Another thing worth crediting S-P-E-LLS for, which I mentioned briefly, is that he is making LOTS of music. It’s really the only way to be successful in a competitive music market, particularly within the genre of electronic music. Type any decent dubstep artist into Youtube, and I almost guarantee that they’ll have a back catalogue, longer than your arm.

Get yourself out of the house, gather your pals and celebrate diversity and originality, in electronic music and the coming together of sub cultures. Need something to kick off the weekend? S-P-E-LLS, is your new rave partner.

Review by Rich Wigley


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