Front Bench

199’s co-founder Front Bench delivers four sparkling dancefloor cuts on ‘Fractal
Boundary’, the label’s debut vinyl offering. The London-based producer, who has
emerged in glimpses throughout 199’s digital release series, raises hairs from the outset
with ‘Standing Still In A Waking Dream’. A thundering kick/clap pattern beats along
purposefully under a string-like riff that twangs like an elastic band, the track rising and
falling with operatic intensity, before ‘Fractal Boundary’ - the EP’s title track - restores
some order. A slight syncopation gives the drums a laidback shrug while looping synth
melodies dance in wistful circles. On the other side, ‘Drawing Contact’ is a rolling cascade
of layered synth lines, crashing softly over one another and creating a broody,
melancholic tension above warbling bass tones and warm, fuzzy percussion. ‘Something’
brings the EP to a cozy end. A cluster of sparse, crisp drum sounds go to work with a
metronomic vocal chop keeping the pace, while an urgent bassline pushes and pulls
between lullaby-soft synth hooks.