Forward-thinking music producer and DJ, Joseph Ashworth, releases his second album 'Stay' on new imprint 'Sound Of Outside'. 'Stay' is a dynamic album spanning from acid house-inspired 'Fearless' to the Aphex Twin-esque 'Loved You'. Ashworth presents a focused and well-thought-out body of work with this new album and also displays a wealth of growth from his last full-length release 'Grain'.
Introducing the album is the ever-evolving 'Kings'. Carried by a series of jazzy chords that lead to a neck-snapping beat and a rich variation of different sections, 'Kings' outlines the album's breadth of experimentation from the get-go. Following 'Kings' is the driving and synth-laden 'Fearless', which revolves around a morphing bass hook that climaxes with a huge crescendo of gliding synth pads. 'Carbonated' presents a straightforward dance beat orientated around a flowing staccato synth line and a motional deep bass, which offers a stark contrast to the beautiful stripped-back ambient track that follows, 'Dressed Up'.
The first single released from the LP, 'Pepper' begins with chugging chords before making way for its chunky, forceful kicks and bassline that drive the track into pumping club territory. However, The track is far from one-dimensional with sweeping synths and arpeggiating pads that develop in-depth as 'Pepper' progresses. 'Loved You' features metallic chords and alien vocal samples that guide the listener through a rich martian landscape and are reminiscent of the works of Aphex Twin and Squarepusher.
'Freeze', 'Resin', and 'Wrong' offer a smooth medley of club-centric tracks to draw the listener to the end of the album. 'Resin' is the most hard-hitting tune of the LP and almost bridges to techno with its heavy beats and minimalist melodies, but is dressed in Ashworth's uplifting ambient style. Another ambient dreamer, 'Cold December' provides the perfect closure to end the album starting and ending with a fluttering synth line and only featuring a single kick drum, 'Cold December' fills the listener with nostalgia and ignites the vision of a cold and crisp December morning.
'Stay' takes the listener on a deep and stimulating journey and although each of the tracks can hold their own as singles, the album as a whole presents a well thought out, expertly sequenced, and masterful body of work that can only be achieved by an artist at their peak.
Introducing the album is the ever-evolving 'Kings'. Carried by a series of jazzy chords that lead to a neck-snapping beat and a rich variation of different sections, 'Kings' outlines the album's breadth of experimentation from the get-go. Following 'Kings' is the driving and synth-laden 'Fearless', which revolves around a morphing bass hook that climaxes with a huge crescendo of gliding synth pads. 'Carbonated' presents a straightforward dance beat orientated around a flowing staccato synth line and a motional deep bass, which offers a stark contrast to the beautiful stripped-back ambient track that follows, 'Dressed Up'.
The first single released from the LP, 'Pepper' begins with chugging chords before making way for its chunky, forceful kicks and bassline that drive the track into pumping club territory. However, The track is far from one-dimensional with sweeping synths and arpeggiating pads that develop in-depth as 'Pepper' progresses. 'Loved You' features metallic chords and alien vocal samples that guide the listener through a rich martian landscape and are reminiscent of the works of Aphex Twin and Squarepusher.
'Freeze', 'Resin', and 'Wrong' offer a smooth medley of club-centric tracks to draw the listener to the end of the album. 'Resin' is the most hard-hitting tune of the LP and almost bridges to techno with its heavy beats and minimalist melodies, but is dressed in Ashworth's uplifting ambient style. Another ambient dreamer, 'Cold December' provides the perfect closure to end the album starting and ending with a fluttering synth line and only featuring a single kick drum, 'Cold December' fills the listener with nostalgia and ignites the vision of a cold and crisp December morning.
'Stay' takes the listener on a deep and stimulating journey and although each of the tracks can hold their own as singles, the album as a whole presents a well thought out, expertly sequenced, and masterful body of work that can only be achieved by an artist at their peak.
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