Conrad Pack returns to SELN Recordings with a three track EP threading the needle between London sonics and something beyond. The primary tracks Praise and Guidance were recorded during the height of the Scram events organised by Leeway (Guy Gormley), and hosted by the late soundsystem luminary Julian Fairshare at Ormside Projects. The influence of this period, and in particular of Fairshare himself, on the music is clear; both are stepper-esq, leaning heavily on London’s musical legacy past and present, whilst still pushing a contemporary sound. Praise is essentially a Dub track. The percussion and bass are of a familiar steppers nature, with the synths evoking a true Big Smoke feeling. Although the melody itself wouldn’t sound out of place in a UK Drill number, the song overall still touches on Industrial and DIY sonics, being all the stronger for doing so. Guidance follows in solid form. Amongst the driving percussion and staunch bassline, droning pads lock in a dense mood whilst sparse choral melodies echo throughout. Think Shaka meets Muslimgauze, but recorded in a Woolwich Office Block. Grotto was originally produced for the group show “The Grotto” held in January 2021 at Ridley Road Project Space. Restructuring the track from the original stems, Pack presents a new and enchanted “stereo version” for Praise EP. Angelic atmospheres flow amongst scattered hi-hats as sporadic Freetekno Kicks reverberate across the void. Most accurately described as “what Curley in a K Hole might have sounded like
