from the unlikely bass music hotspot of austin, texas, the mighty vvv returns to fortified audio with his strongest material yet in the form of his – and the labels – debut album. if you slept on the projects ep we released in 2010, nows the time to get acquainted with the dynamic progressive garage thats garnered praise from the likes of martyn and oneman. while still giving nods to the classic sounds of ghost, early tempa and vintage dem-2 productions, across the sea updates these formats with deep and futuristic synth work, subtle but weighty basslines and precision rhythms that mark vvv out as one of the most formidable producers working in the crowded field of bass music. this time around its not only the future sounds of london that are present, but also the ghosts of classic chicago house, richard d james-esque electronica and an ethereal contemporary soul sound. across the sea showcases the strongest work to date from a guy we consider to be one of the best in the game

austin-based vvv is one of a new wave of garage producers whose music actually feels like an honest mixture of vintage and modern touches, rather than a trend-hopper looking to capitalize on a few dubstepforum fruity loops tutorials. he s an artist who happily mixes and matches signifiers, lacing his productions with subtle streaks of colour and leading them into unexpected detours. over the course of across the sea vvv swings from gleeful todd edwards-style vocal mush (-aisle seat-) to sepalcure-esque house-tinged workouts like -retreated- to more experimental fare. on tracks like -stuck between- or the stumbling punch-drunk jungle of -duration of light-Ñwhere breaks crash through filtered soul samples and cause ripples like dominoesÑhe always keeps the tracks backbone intact while doing some of the weirdest things to bass music youll hear this side of machinedrum. across the sea doesnt have the same visionary outlook as room(s), but it shares that albums embrace of fine-tuned sequencing and development. the tender, reflective moments that occasionally pop up are its best, whether its that memorable opener or the fogged-glass beats of -among the whispers,- which admittedly sounds a little like burial but higher-definition, with high-strung chords recalling netsky more than untrue. the albums closer -all that weve been through- nicely sums up the proceedings, throwing an out-of-context piano on top of another burial-esque beat loaded up with reverb yet still cutting clear as day. its perfectly representative of vvvs aesthetic: his debut album isnt always made up of entirely original ingredients, but like any good chef, he knows how to present it in a way thats irresistibly appetizing.