Atomic Atmosphere

Every criticism levied at this week’s other prog reviews apply in no sense or shape to this wonderful album. Fitalic is an utter geezer – I just wish he chose a slightly different artist name so that he doesn’t get mixed up with Fatali.

Lost In Space is one of the most beautiful introductions to an album I have ever come across. It’s mellow, it’s chilled, it’s divine – it clears the sonic palate from the aftertaste of whatever your stereo’s just been playing, and sets the scene for what turns out to be a warm, memorable, enjoyable journey. Liquid Motion layers masterfully up to a break with an incredible melody – simple, Balearic, effective stuff which – let’s try to stay to our roots ladies and gents – is exactly what this sort of music is supposed to be about.

Atomic Atmosphere has a compulsive, hypnotic hook: you can’t help but be drawn in to what’s going on. Reverb-heavy peripheral sounds all mount up, so that you become very aware of the patches of silence in the music; which, on occasion, is rather a lot. The Way, on the other hand, has much more going on – it’s a subtly swirling little fella, with some eyepopping moments that are liable to have a dancefloor seriously thanking their lucky stars they came out this weekend and didn’t stay in watching reality TV.

Airflow is sheer genius. The fastest track on the album – a heady 132bpm – sees the 4-4 dropped in favour of a simple, crisp breakbeat and it works a charm. Manufactured Miracles is s a seriously good bit of techno-friendly club chunkiness. It’s four very much on the floor, with a drop toward the end that’ll have you gritting your teeth in delight.

Into The Night has a darker, angrier tone and while it’s an impressive piece of musical dynamism, it’s not his best here. Twisted Diffusion is a tribal masterpiece, with percussive texturing driving it along through a seedy house underground and out into the morning, sunglasses on, to clamber into a taxi, twitching and smelling of vodka. Finally, Distructible (sic) ties-in the melodic and the tribal, into one delectable whole; music that your mate’s mate who’s into “serious” house music will adore as much as your other mate’s mate who’s a Hawtin snob.

And that sort of sums it all up really: Fitalic has created an album with incredible diversity, yet all within a single modus operandi. The production quality is staggering (especially loud) and it’s a bloody good album whether you plan to DJ it, have it on in the car, shag to it, or buy it for your brother for Christmas. Good stuff.