The UK legends are at it again. Ivy Lab shows undeniable merit with their latest project – the Double Blind EP. Out now on Deadbeats, this 3-track beat-tape seesaws between elegant, and nasty, and we are loving every second of it.
Shot by Lorena
After crushing their Coachella performance and announcing tour dates with Flume for the summer, Sabre and Stray continue to make strides with their unique strain of UK bass. As Ivy Lab, the duo often takes a minimalistic approach to bass music, and the result is always gas.
Staying busy in April, the boys released two singles; an official remix for Flying Lotus, and a jungle-inspired contribution to Critical Music’s compilation album, 20 Years of Underground Sonics. (A must-listen by the way.)
And now we have this, the Double Blind EP. A gritty and emotive masterpiece to test our speakers with. Look we could chat forever about the greatness these two possess, but I won’t hold you. Let’s get into the music.
“Double Blind”
First up, the title track. Described as a “skate park anthem,” this one uses seductive vocal sampling and hip-hop influences to take you to the concrete jungle. The hard-hitting drums show the duo’s LA influence with that west coast rap vibe, but the mood eventually shifts around the 1:30 mark and fades into a more delicate aura. As the vocals fade, glistening synths and low-end bass frequencies take you on a trap-fueled journey toward the next track…
“Melrose”
Fans of our more uptempo early catalog will find a lot of familiarity in ‘Melrose.’ Birthed in the rotten-apple & dripping in Avirex; It’s a cocky millennial rap beat upgraded to knock hard on festival bass-bins.
Ivy Lab
This is a rap beat, plain and simple. Ditch the headphones and play this on a system. The first taste of “Melrose” is familiar — a thunderous beat with a minimalist focus. It even follows the title track’s lead by switching up halfway through into a track with more glamour. We’re almost tip-toeing into future beats territory with this one, and we are NOT mad about it.
“Svcar”
This is where things get a bit darker. Quoted as “hypnotic” and “unsettling,” “Svcar” is the devil on your shoulder. Bass music pulled from the mud with a certain level of grime that brings a smile to your face. Expect madness whenever this gets rinsed live.
The 20/20 LDN bosses simply cannot miss. As the two continue their crusade across the US, the Double Blind EP is just another example of what Ivy Lab brings to the table. Their range in the studio is apparent in this record, and the theme fits perfectly on a label like Deadbeats. If you haven’t yet, give these men their flowers.
Listen to the Double Blind EP by Ivy Lab below, and support your favorite creatives
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