Slugabed - Sex

Slugabed’s single ‘Sex’, taken from his debut album ‘Time Team’, is unashamedly electro. There are elements that reference ‘80s pop and video game soundtracks, and the simple, clear synth hooks will get you nodding your head, even if they don’t lead you on to the dancefloor. This doesn’t make for the most forward thinking dance track, but it is commendable that Sluga didn’t throw in flavour of the months techniques just so that it would sit comfortably next to the work of other UK producers.

However, there is some of that going on on the B-side, ‘Molecules’. There’s a hint of wobble from dubstep, 8-bit lines that could have come from Ikonika or Zomby and a sugar-coated crunk snare roll that I thought Rustie had trademarked.

That’s all there is from Slugabed on this single, but it does come with two remixes of ‘Sex’. In the hands of LA beat-smith Deadelus, the core elements of the song are obscured by fog of low-end and slow-moving synths. Although not his best work, the whole thing ends up as a drowsy, enjoyable smudge of a dance track.

Groundislaya doesn’t tamper with the original too much. But the shiny electronics he adds are a nice touch and feel like the could be at home on the soundtrack to the movie ‘Drive’.

‘Sex’ is a solid but slightly lusterless single. It looks like ‘Time Team’ will be the real test for Slugabed.