Josma - Signals EP [SMD118]

As 2016 opens its doors, Suffused Music looks to develop its reputation for breaking exciting new artists to the label and showcasing their impressive music in the process. To this end, Josma now joins the Suffused Music ranks with the three-track, “Signals”.

The product of the combined talents of friends, Jose Toledo and Maxi Montivero, Josma, enters the underground dance arena with notable credentials. Both hailing from the central Argentinean city of Codoba, Montivero, an accomplished pianist, has seen success under his own name. A clutch of productions over a four-year period has seen original music signed to Deepmentality and Balkan Connection, after a debut for Area Sur Records in 2010. Furthermore, “Remember” for the highly influential imprint Tulipa, on the Brendon Collins curated “Petal Four”, was a notable 2014 highlight.

Making his production debut, Jose Toledo, is another skilled musician, proficient in guitar and piano, and using his talent to perform in a rock band. Now moving into the dance music arena, his collaboration with Montivero has seen the ten-year long friends combine their respective talents. Working closely for more than a decade, the duo have produced music in a variety of genres but have, thus far, not ventured into a collaborative partnership. This is now rectified through their Josma production pseudonym and the striking “Signals” EP.

Opening track, “Dark Memories”, is an intelligently produced piece driven by cadenced hi-hat percussion that lilts atop dominant kick. Melodic flair is brought to the fore by a strong lead riff that plants a hook squarely in the listener’s subconscious. Evolving strongly throughout, rhythmic stabs and sustained bass line create an emotive whole.

“Glimmer” is a hypnotic affair that revels in rhythm and bass glory. A house beat drives the track forward as it evolves delicately via filtered bass line warmth and percussive ingenuity. A vibrato melodic riff makes its presence felt from the mid point onwards, developing into stepped sequence glory post-breakdown and working in splendid synchronicity with rhythmic components in the third movement.

The title track itself continues the themes central to its EP counterparts as “Signals” makes a strong play through it ticking percussive rhythm. A plucked riff plays its part in rhythmic interest before a wonderful arpeggio lights up proceedings, laying the foundation for a delicate played riff to showcase Josma’s musicianship. A strong bass line and pulsating pads are final component in an impressive work.

An intelligent and homogenous offering, a brand new three-track EP from Josma “Signals” a stirring mark of intent.

Text by James Warren

Picture by Vern Southern

Mastered by Cid Inc.

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