Two Inch Punch - Love You Up

Mysterious London-based producer Two Inch Punch has already announced his arrival this year as one the UK’s most progressive electronic musicians with his brilliantly inventive self-released breakthrough track ‘Love You Up’; now, ten months later, comes his first full EP.

Released on PMR Records, home to Julio Bashmore and Jessie Ware, Two Inch Punch’s debut EP firmly establishes his unique and compelling electronic pop sound. Founded on a love of RnB and soul, it can be heard in the warped and cut up samples that feature heavily on ‘Up In Your Mix’ and the title track. The samples are never distorted to lose sight of the melody, however, but are there to complement the extremely clever synth based experimentalism that gives the songs a hugely compelling soaring quality.

Two Inch Punch is not interested in mere, wilful, experimentalism. Every track is a great pop record in its own right and the sweet and lilting ‘Her Heart Moves’ is a really lovely piece of joyous electronic pop. The haunting closer ‘Forgive Me (For Messin’ Up)’ shows a different side, as the track is slowed right down to a hypnotic lurch. It makes for a pretty disorientating listen but it is a great way to end a seriously impressive collection of music.

2011 has been a standout year for UK producers making wonderfully exciting electronic music, with the likes of James Blake, Jamie XX, Ifan Dafydd and Rustie all providing standout releases. Two Inch Punch may have topped them all though with this astoundingly good EP.