Ali “OOFT!” Herron kicks off his 2012 release schedule with only his second solo EP on Foto Recordings, a label he founded as a main creative outlet for his own productions as well as showcasing work from contemporaries like Deep Space Orchestra and Andy Ash. Known for his pitched-down disco re-edits and languid house, this release sees the Scotsman flirt with his more up-beat, techno leanings.
Memories is dominated by a singular metallic stab and purposeful beats which are enlivened with the introduction of glossy, arpeggiated keys and soaring strings. Depending on your point of view, the 120 BPM tempo might seem pedestrian at best, but Herrons ability to raise energy levels by skillfully blending and expanding the various elements makes this an unlikely weapon in the right hands, at the right time. Billy sees him explore more familiar avenues, teasing out sluggish piano and vocal loops over equally drowsy percussion, throwing in the odd chord progression to keep things interesting. With the re-edit bubble all but having burst, it appears there is still time for a swaggering, slinky disco workout. Esa “Mervin Granger” Williams gives the title track the Sub Club treatment on the digital-only remix of Memories, reworking the original to blistering effect with his signature bustling rhythmic dexterity and breezy sonic bursts. The fabled Glasgow venue has long stood as a symbolic beacon to the rich and prolific output of the city’s residents, and the Rememory Music helmsman no doubt had this in mind when employing the monstrous kick and spirited bass line that dominates this remix.
With only a handful of solo efforts under his belt so far, one gets the impression that Ooft feels more at home remixing and releasing his peers, almost content at taking a back seat and weighing in without stealing the limelight. With an EP as polished and varied as this, however, the man from up north reminds us that he is still one of the finest purveyors of the “Glasgow sound” and that there is still something stirring in Scotland.
Words by Robin Would