With an output more akin to a trickle than a stream, xxxy can be a frustrating producer to follow. Instead of bending under the pressure to release four track EPs backed with a slew of remixes, he opts for the less is more approach, dropping streamlined releases that simultaneously satisfy the craving but intensify the need for more. Fortunately his latest EP, You Gotta Do You (out now on Orca Recordings) is one of his most complex and rewarding releases to date, offering much more than its short tracklist might suggest.

The title track represents a pretty drastic departure from xxxy’s previous output. Whereas tracks like “Ordinary Things” and “Just For Me” exemplify his warm, sensuous, and nostalgic sensibilities, “You Gotta Do You” displays a much more rugged production style that favors techno and acid over garage and 2-step. It opens with a choppy, heavily filtered synth line that rises up at various points to bring a strong sense of motion to the track. The no-frills drum programming and writhing, shape-shifting acid synths are a nod to early techno sounds, while the murky sub bass and pitched down vocal sample bring an entirely modern perspective to the table. The result is a heavyweight technoid roller that will require some serious build-up before being unleashed on a dancefloor.

The swirling cosmic pads and garage-leaning shuffles on “Open Your Eyes” sound more in line with what we’ve come to expect from xxxy, but it finds the producer branching out once again into more unfamiliar territory. Borrowing a distorted, lo-fi kick from grime’s sonic palette as well as a heaping dose of the Amen break (the fundamental building block for jungle and drum and bass), this track is perplexing in its references but dazzling in its execution. We’re blown away by the ease and fluidity with which xxxy fuses together tough bass rhythms and frenetic breakbeat sounds with blissful synth melodies and atmospherics. For a producer that generated such a big following for his signature sound, it’s really exciting to hear him bring in a wider range of influences and experiment with new styles. You Gotta Do You is a sublime release that smartly abides by the first rule of show business: always leave them wanting more. We’re more than happy to wait.

xxxy – You Gotta Do You – 004 by william orca

xxxy – Open Your Eyes – 004 by william orca

Xxxy – You Gotta Do You (Orca Recordings) is out now.