Raffertie - Build Me Up

Artists working within the perpetually changing and evolving realm of electronic music are blessed with almost endless possibilities with which to shape, evolve and develop. British producer Benjamin Stefanski, aka Raffertie, is an artist who has already swiftly developed his sound from frenetic begins to a more nuanced and atmospheric approach on his latest EP.

‘Build Me Up’ is something of a regeneration for Raffertie. While much of his previous work was a sensory overload consisting of a barrage of hyper speed beats, bleeps and noises the four tracks collected here are an example of artist taking a different approach to tremendous effect. These are four distinct songs concerned with emotion and feeling.

The main difference is the addition of Raffertie’s own voice to his productions. His tender croon adds a lovely sweetness to these fractured pieces of electronic soul. On the title track he channels Mariah Carey by paying an affectionate nod to the melodic hook of her 1993 hit ’Dreamlover’. It’s a glorious cut up vocal led slow jam that sees him displaying real emotion in his music perhaps for the first time.

‘Benediction’ is a cover of Hot Nature’s reverential deep house hit from last year. Here, Raffertie pares it right back into an almost sedated state. The ghostly distant vibes and hushed vocals provide a nice contrast to the rapturous euphoria of the lyrics.

The final two tracks on this EP see him progressing ever deeper into a textured, darkly soulful tunnel. ‘Trust’ is beautifully aching and yearning. The lyric, “It’s hard to look in your eyes and forget” is indicative of the stark and direct approach of these songs. The addition of the vocals of South London singer YADi provides a lovely blend of voices to complement the lullaby like sounds. ‘Known’ is a bit more mysterious and ominous. In much the same fashion as The xx, it combines humming beats, arpeggiated guitar a deep sonorous voice to subtly powerful effect.