4 out of 5

Label: Central Processing Unit

Produced by: Stephen Hennelly

The simple pleasures of a Splitradix release: bouncy, mid-range synths with a squiggly low-end; calming, and yet with an excitable BPM. Split (Stephen Hennelly) has proven consistent across a relatively short, but release-filled timespan, always sticking to a familiar range of sounds, but finding a lot of room within those sounds, showing a keen ear for how much to pack into a track without overwhelming, and also so that each little touch has use. 

All of this holds true on their latest from CPU, Synthesizing Your Future, with a couple new and appreciated quirks. 

Middle track Time Travelling Kodama is “classic” Splitdatrix, comparable to work on their other CPU release and elsewhere: a bubbly beat layered on top by dense but deft synths, somewhat combining cut and paste glitchy IDM composition with the more chill sounds of 90s ambient. Opener New Ireland Digital is a bolder statement, going for an electro vibe with a harder edge and a central, repeated vocal sample, while also inserting that kind of light-hearted Split vibe, and continual momentum. Across eight minutes, it never tires. Closer West Coast Way also goes electro, but in a more old school DMX Krew style; very 90s club with a standard BPM. The flourish here is in the synth layer, entertainingly juxtaposed against that danceable backbone. 

The final remix is maybe a bit questionable, not doing much to its source track except amplifying the beat, but the source is so good (and inherently varied) that it’s not a bad thing to revisit it.