5 out of 5

Label: Byrd Out

Produced by: Ed DMX

May all things be contained with a DMX Krew EP: kitsch, funk, house, retro, IDM…

That’s not always the case, of course: Ed Upton is just as good at nailing a particular subgenre as he is at hopping from one to another, but it’s always a particularly satisfying magic trick when Ed can stuff a handful of vibes into one tiny package.

‘Stellar Gateway’ – the title – gives me good imagery for this record, mixing forward-looking sci-fi with kind of pulpy, dated terminology; like mini-maquettes used to represent starships. That sense of something hand-crafted blended with epic ideas syncs with the EP’s eyes-open funk, dancing around in Ed’s preference for analog-, 90s-sounding house beats which are modernized with some really trippy synths, adding alien layers on top of a head-bobbing base. This provides both a broad and specific palette, giving the five tracks a very particular sound, but encompassing of the various styles mentioned above. It’s a nicely weird listen, with relatively trim runtimes keeping things on track, though certainly allowing enough room for songs to appropriately wander, as well.

Of Ed’s Byrd output (up to the time of this writing), Stellar Gateway is the best fit, straddling straight forward electronica with an experimental sensibility; it’s also a standout EP from Ed’s many, though, giving us his classic retro electro with unique hooks wended perfectly throughout.