It's been a long two years since Ed Rush & Optical unleashed their seminal long player, 'Wormholes', an album of intense proportions that kick-started a general obsession with all things condensed and technical amongst the d & b fraternity.
It will doubtless come as a surprise (and a relief) to many that their new album, "The Creeps", is a deeper, broader and wider affair than their debut. For a start there's explorations into vocal terrain. No fluffy folk vocals from this duo of course, but there's some serious MC-cum-hip hop ruffness as MC Rhyme Time gets busy over the rugged beats of opener 'Resurrection' and Basim flows coolly on the last cut, 'Fast Line'.
In between, we find a impressively broad range of styles. Although 'The Creeps' is as menacing as it's title suggests, and definitely possesses 'nuff sick bass kicks and dark, searing keys work, there are surprise moments of levity. 'White Lightning' offers some mutated vocal snippets and wild, tribalised drum beats and is enhanced by some wild, whooping samples which make it one of the finest cuts on the LP.
Then there's 'Check Out Time' which rides a low, sinister hum before breaking into a full on flavoursome roller. 'Pacman' - a cut built on the bare minimum of foundations will manage to wreck heads with it's catchy, bouncy style and 'Reach Out' employs a reggae vocal to great effect over a course b-line. 'Rock Tha House' starts out with an almost dreamy intro before destroying any notions of ambience with some deft b-line action and high octane breaks.
Overall, 'The Creeps' makes use of various layers and textures through this album so that it isn't, like it's predecessor, overbearing after four or five tracks. The hard core vibe that Ed Rush & Optical have doubtless attempted to recreate has worked a treat and has ultimately made an album that will please most listeners from start to finish.
by Paul Sullivan