OUTBOXX

OUTBOXX (Idle Hands)

15/20

After infiltrating the scene with singles like Aporia and the Blueberry EP, the timing seems perfect for a full LP from Bristol’s Outboxx. Utilising a broad pallet of influences, Jacob Martin and Matt Lambert have created a distinctive angle which reflects a range of their hometown’s key sounds, where intoxicating house rhythms underpin jazz-inspired musicality and timeless disco leanings. As the album progresses, each tune becomes a chapter in an involving narrative. Tracks like Home are reminiscent of 4Hero, other tracks have elements of house and techno dons Bodycode, Isolée, and The Other People Place, a suitably diverse range of influences. Recognising these individual elements is an intriguing process, creating something fresh with a warmly familiar character. Lost Soul, featuring regular vocalist Naomi Jeremy, injects a garage vibe with soulful grace. The singer is a key ingredient in this album’s success, adding a pleasingly involving character to the Outboxx sound. As the second half of the album welcomes a seamless shift in attitude, the record sidles into darker, deeper territory, a well-judged transition which helps make the LP a deeply listenable experience. Released via Bristol’s Idle Hands imprint, this record captures much of why the city is an electronic hotbed of the moment.

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Words: Claude Barbé-Brown