attempt to find a convenient musical pigeon-hole for zapatilla and you ll find him slipping from your grasp and zig-zagging in unexpected yet compelling directions. his transcendent debut ep comprises two ambitious, shapeshifting tracks. initially, opener crumbling down suggests a dance-floor focused blueprint, before its arrangement of percussion and classical instruments come into focus around the 3 minute mark, the result is a steadfastly organic and emotional opus. its sister track thumb piano is a more abstract affair, with its eclectic instrumentation anchored to a palette of synths and electronica. via his world travels and collaborations with numerous artists, zapatilla has accrued a wealth of experience, influences and a stock pile of varied and unusual instruments. it s a varied cv and includes his role as bass player in the acclaimed owiny sigoma band and, along with tom skinner, composing the score for swedish film the real estate a nominee for best film at this year s berlin film festival. this hybrid of influences has resulted in a spine-tingling alchemy that on paper shouldn t work. but zapatilla s natural instinct for melody, innovative arrangements and musical ability, make this one of the most musically adept and intriguing artists set to emerge this year.