3 out of 5

Label: WéMè Records

Too playful by half, Syntheme – aka Global Goon, aka Johnny Hawk – delivers some badass acid on this WéMè EP, but clutters up the experience in extra-short tracks that read like scratch tracks, and unfortunately underwhelms the flow.

Lov3’s two sides can be said to focus on some relative bangers: Okbae is quirky acid, all squelch and quirk, with deep percussion and great hooks; on the B-side, Neyellon stretches on for a bit too long, but its colder, more clinical beat again sings out with excellent production.

Surrounding this on both sides are cuts that are amazing, they’re just… snippets. Closer Eoswaal has a bid at being a full track, but elsewhere, these things come across as ideas-only; as soon as they get going, they leave you dry. This would be more tolerable if they weren’t so good, but I really can’t help but sing the praises on the production of this, which adds a ton of layers to the percussive elements while really nailing the heartbeat beat, and squelch of the acid. This gets combined with Hawk’s somewhat playful, slippery IDM stylings for some instantly grabbing tracks. But again: they end right when they really pick up. It’s distracting, and disappointing, and makes the win of the bangers they surround seem less-so.