- This is the debut release of Stimulator Jones, the one man producing unit who has recently entered into the fold at one of my favourite record labels, Stones Throw. As a virgin voyage, it aptly coincides with the aesthetic of its new found fleet. On the back of grooving, hypnotic drum loops, Exotic Worlds and Masterful Treasures drags you into a smoky abode, filled with effortless cool, and dripping with lustful thoughts. Whilst its being smothered in warm, sticky aesthetic is the initial charm of this record, after repeat listens it may also be a thorn in the side. On the surface, the songs here sound like the modern incarnation of a '90’s r'n'b with the deep, buzzing bass lines galvanising the angelic vocals and overall groove; all the right stuff for an adroit producer. Still this soul soothing and mood enhancing capability butter can be more trick than magic. Does this dreamy, washed out approach nullify the subtle variation?
Yes and no. Given the entrancing drum loops provide some sense of grounding to a sound that might otherwise take off for the heavens, there's some justification for keeping the pace at a comfortable, sensible sway. When the flame is turned down to a slow burn as on Together, it leaves a smouldering, sultry canvas of intimate falsettos, warbled bass synths, and flirting atmos. That smouldering continues into Trippin On You and fires up again on Suite Lov, where the layered, reverbed vocals emulate a stripped down variation of the throwback boy-band love ballad, only enticing you in further than you already ventured. Give My All, features some wind chime transitions, sleek, jazzy guitar chords, and some bell like percussion during the chorus. A commendable job has been done to fabricate and gently caress the album’s blanket vibe into a playlist you’d make for someone you were trying to wow.
On the flip side, that’s where things become muddled as well. There’s a certain formula to everything on offer here and after a few repeat listens, it really does become apparent. Slow and steady and...set on repeat...how many times do you want to take this ride? When the formula is perfectly played with, as it is on lead song Need Your Body, featuring the album’s strongest hook, Stimulator Jones channels D’Angelo through lo-fi filters and hazy eyes. Professing the desperation of human intimacy, this song swoons with anchoring chords as other melodies drift through nonchalantly while a strong vocal performance croons with a quiet confidence. In such cases, you're left with the feeling of wearing velvet pyjamas in bed embracing your true love. Primordial thoughts are evoked from the obviously pointed love-inspired lyrics and woozy, buttery compositions. Again though, after a few listens, some of that butter just can't help but melt together. From the lush production of bewitching drum loops and spacey melodies on each track, it can be a little hard to discern one song from another. You start recognising motifs from one song appearing in another and that unique, true-love feeling you had starts to seem mass-produced, cheapened.
Hey, don't let it ruin your night or anything. Overall, this is the most idyllic virgin voyage. Oozing with luxurious instrumentations and a quiet, knowing charm, Exotic Worlds and Masterful Treasures is the manifesto of a most notable producer, one who will hopefully become a mainstay. Dance music for those who don’t like to dance, a few variations on its smooth-ass themes wouldn’t have gone astray but it's almost certainly as good as any mix cd you could conjure up for your crush.
- Matt Lynch.