February 23, 2018 - R&S Records
lol, ‘As Webster’s dictionary states, an ambivert is “a person whose personality has a balance of extrovert and introvert features.”’ I will use this statement as the basis of the following critique. Lone from London also known as Matt Cutler is back on one of the best logos in the music industry, R&S Records with the third installment of his Ambivert Tools series, Ambivert Tools Volume Three. The formula is the same as the previous volumes: a couple of dreamy 4x4 cuts, not too dense, wonderfully mixed by Cutler, and masterfully mastered by the legend Matt Colton.
‘Temples’ starts out strong with a traditional breakbeat pattern and percussive elements that have become synonymous with tribal culture. A pan flute sample quickly jumps in to let the listener know that the initial feeling is correct, this is going to be a musical journey around the idea of ancient temples and exotic landscapes. A crisp arpeggiated synth dots the path along the map, ever leading us onwards to the next awe inspiring site. Cutler throws in a forrest-clearing pause around the 4:45 mark engineered for a hip-swaying-hands-in-the-air-moment before tossing us back into the thick of it. The long outro certainly has track mixing in mind, but hey, these are DJ tools.
The B-side ‘Hyper Seconds’ follows suite, though in more memorable fashion. Where the A-side took listeners along a designated path that many have followed, ‘Hyper Seconds’ takes that ever desired road less traveled. For me, this track ties in more strongly with the project title. Cutler plays with aspects of extro- and introversion; certain elements are very aggressive and powerful while others remain subtle and unobtrusive. The track itself has something to say, and it doesn’t rely on anything extra or overt to say it. It’s like that person in a party who doesn’t say much, but when they do speak, it’s usually spot on, to the point, relevant, and without unnecessary words.
Cutler labels these tracks as "tools," something that DJs use in their sets for various purposes. Some DJ tools are used to create tension in a live setting, others give the sense that the DJ is doing more complex work live than is actually taking place. These "ambivert tools" Cutler has crafted are transportation devices. When thrown into a live club environment, these tracks work to take the listeners far away. The tracks are still written in the Language of Dance; the familiar 4x4 patterns, heavy kick drum and cymbal elements, and body moving BPMs allow for an easy transition for the average club listener. They make for perfect sonic cut-aways in the middle of the night, like the ever so thin slice from the subtle knife of His Dark Materials letting the listener peer into another world while remaining planted firmly on the dance floor of an uncomfortably crowded sweaty underground club. 🍍