North London-by-way-of-Suffolk soundsmith Gerry Read delivers his first release for Circus
Company with the Lean on Something EP. After countless examples of his bold production moves
on many of our brother and sister labels including Herbert’s Accidental Jr to more recently on Koze’s
Pampa Records, Read has always displayed a kindred spirit mindset to ours in his adventurous
musical angles, and we are very happy to present this particular set of rock-solid and uniquely
diverse pieces.
The title track “Lean on Something” starts things off in fine and classic Read form, with knocking
found-sound percussion, fizzing textures and slick use of chopped and disorienting vocal sample
bits, as the track layers unfold into a whimsical and wondrous melodic stargazing anthem. “Wooer
at the Well” then follows and picks up the tempo with those fly live acoustic drum lines that gives
Gerry’s tracks that special beyond-electronic feeling, while once again the deft layering of such a
rich sound palette builds and builds giving other mavericks like Four Tet a sincere run for their
money. The mood then brilliantly shifts on the next track “Paramol”, where Read treats us to an
almost Robotnik-era Italo sprinkling amidst his otherwise forward-thinking club floor-filling
tendencies, with an amazing array of synth sections and an arrangement that should satisfy even
the neo-purists out there amongst us. Finally, “Risotto” wraps up the proceedings with a warm,
jazzy bouncer reminiscent of both Read’s as well as our own catalog’s charming early offerings,
and a kind of landing-at-home-base sensation with smoky cubist funk feelings and an equal parts
rough-yet-undeniably cool effervescent groove.