Changing Channels: Part 1

One of the co-founders of visionary U.K. bass label Hessle Audio, Pangaea has been releasing forward-thinking club bangers since the late 2000s. Known for making eerie, knotty dubstep and garage tracks for much of his career, hes been putting out more anthemic material during the 2020s, and Changing Channels (a seven-song effort billed as his second full-length, even though its a track shorter than his earlier Release EP) contains his most immediate work. "Installation" has the same sort of mind-scrambling vocal cut-ups as his amazing 2011 single "Hex," but its more accessible and not as fierce or gnarly. "If" is the records other massive tune, looping variations of the phrase "if you love me too" over smashed-up jungle breaks. Other songs have more MK/Todd Edwards-like cut-ups over skipping, gliding garage beats, while "Squid" has dizzy tech-house synths and an almost kuduro-like knock to the beats. "Bad Lines" is a euphoric flashback to the days of happy hardcore, but in a somewhat tasteful way, with no goofy samples or cartoon helium voices. Pangaeas music is always outstanding, but rarely has it ever been as purely exciting. ~ Paul Simpson