Hot on the heels of his successful first Rubi Records release, Ashley Tindall, AKA Skeptical, comes with another three-track EP showcasing his evolving and expanding sound. The opener, 'Rhubarb', shows clear influences of fatherhood, with sampled sounds of happy childhood leading into what is possibly Skeptical's deepest track to date. While this is no piece of bland 'intelligent' D&B by any stretch, the build up intro of warm pads that leads into a chilled head-nodder stands a good chance of having you listening with eyes closed, smiling as fond memories wash over you. Next up is the deceptive 'Capsize'. Starting with the strings of an old sea shanty, the track sounds like it will follow the more chilled route of 'Rhubarb', before the introduction of some twisted minimal sonics and trademark 'steppy Skeppy' drums quickly change that notion! The swift addition of a fizzing, rubber-band b-line completes the switch up and you're sailing on far from calm waters. The return of the shanty violins amidst this is inspired, showing that breaking from the expected norm is not just something that this producer isn't shy of doing, but something he does exceptionally well. To round off, Skeptical steps back into more typical sonic territory with a slice of intense D&B minimalism titled 'Foiled'. This deceptively simple-sounding track hides a wealth of meticulously-crafted and perfectly-balanced elements that deliver a somewhat claustrophobic atmosphere that will appeal to lovers of the outer-edges of cutting-edge D&B. Skeptical's new EP promises to be just as successful as his first release, showcasing his unique and evolving sound. Support: Ben UFO, Joy Orbison, Gilles Pererson, dBridge, Break, DLR, Doc Scott, Mefjus, Kasra, Kings of the Rollers, Alix Perez, Jubei, Dub Phizix, Flight, Tasha, Loxy, Randall, Lens. Radio Support: BBC Radio 6 Music, Kiss FM, Rinse FM, Kool FM
