Open Space Vinyl & CDs

Review: Fascinating Balearico-steppers from low-key production outfit and chillout band Puli, debuting for new Miami label Open Space. Responding to a flux of "musicians from the east side of Los Angeles" having "re-established the city of angels as the first city of Balearica", Swirling is one of many new records to find itself included in this newfangled niche. Its progenitors Puli are expert renderers of the sound, and all its members have many a bullet-point CV entry, the already eminent John Jones, Phil Cho and Damon Palermo laying among its core members. Drawing on the energies of local LA downtown parties - experienced in swungover, stark contrast to woozy Sunday eves spent munching on tacos - this coming-together of cool cats incenses us most with 'Cloudy' and 'Leech Seed Dub', both of which are mid-record tinkerers, satisfying the stereo field in as much as the mono centre is kept as hotfooted as a bare tread on a quick-drying pool patio. The serener moments are charming too; the B's 'Bongo Springs' and 'Swirling' up-and-down the proceedings to electro and psychedub territories respectively, rounding the record off on versatile notes of calm, irrespective of tempo.