Debut album from Berlin-based, Bristol-hailing Emika. Occupy the kohl-eyed space between electronic pop, dubstep, techno and minimal house, meaning she's equally at home with the Ostgut Ton crew (whose Funf comp she provided field recordings for) as with Ninja Tune. A darkly sultry edge, perfectly evocative of lost midnight hours in a Kreuzberg basement. At times there are echoes of Emika's West Country forebears Portishead ('Professional Loving'), while 'Be My Guest' is a Subloaded/DMZ-friendly stepper with an injection of feminine pressure, and elsewhere the combo of heavy subs, spaced out snares and emotionally ambiguous vocals is pure Various Production. For all these reference points, Emika has cultivated her own sound here. A bruising, seductive debut that encompasses a remarkable trick: opening up dubstep to pop influence without pandering to the requirements of the mainstream.
