An artist with a select but impressive collection of releases to her name, Sarah Britton, has created a scintillating sonic palette through her Eko Centrik production soubriquet. Via a multi-faceted tapestry of sounds that cite Portishead, Sasha, Jon Hopkins, and Max Cooper as influences, the UK singer/songwriter has created a unique amalgam of triphop, progressive house and electronica into a unique sonic identity. Able to harness modular synthesis with organic instrumentation and vocal expression, the Eko Centrik sound is equally at home in the shared club environment as it is in isolated headphone moments. A production portfolio that began with a 2018 debut for Incepto Smooth, then led to work for the ever-reliable Spring Tube, before releasing on Another Life Music, and Londam in 2022 and 2023.
Now debuting on Balance Music, ‘Half Light Island‘ is propelled but a deep resonant kick and ticking percussive hi-hat combination. A chorus of atmospheric effects redolent in delays and reverb add a rich sonic texture as progressive stabs and textured pads evolve into an evocative aural landscape. Ethereal vocal treatments blend effortlessly between the real and electronic before a breakdown full of modular finesse then blossoms into a club floor-filler where rhythm and melody combine in dynamic fashion.
An iconic figure within the underground dance fraternity, Jamie Stevens remains a leading figure whose meticulous production skills continue to excite and enthral. Jamie’s solo work has been in high demand from a legion of high-profile labels. Bedrock, microCastle, and Guy J’s Lost & Found have all played host to his distinctive sound, while Balance Music has witnessed a clutch of superb original productions with Garance, and fellow Australian, GMJ, and well as remixes for Jam & Spoon, Rich Curtis, and Anton Tumas. Returning for a fourth remix, the Jamie Stevens reworking of ‘Half Light Island‘ retains the central melodic themes of Eko Centrik’s work while a new 16th note running bassline provides dancefloor urgency. Cleverly using some of the more atmospheric components of the original, a swathe of additional production material pulsates gently across the track in majestic fashion. Waxing and waning with subtle knowhow, Jamie’s remix hits its mark time and again with precision engineering and a series of ever-powerful drops that create a seething, driving vibrancy.
‘Inside‘ is a sublime collage of stepped arpeggio and complementary motifs that drift in easy fashion across a 5-minute timeframe. Evolving easily, a stripped back soundstage paves the way for a loquacious vocal treatment to take centre stage as it coruscates gently atop an intricate percussive backdrop and metronomic 4/4 beat.
The final track sees ‘Sunflower‘ ripple with a sweeping flow of arpeggiated motifs combined with counterpoint piano phrasing, laced with stereo-panned white-noise effect at the breakdown. Driven by a chunky rhythmic backdrop that provides the perfect accompaniment for the melodic elements to shine, the result is a unique offering that epitomises the Eko Centrik sound and approach to electronic music.
Eko Centrik – Half Light Island EP
1. Half Light Island (Original mix)
2. Half Light Island (Jamie Stevens remix)
3. Inside
4. Sunflower
