Release date: 17th July 2012

Label: PMR Records

Wot you call it? Lovestep? Well, whatever you call it, I like it. And after Two Inch Punch’s debut of last year, the Love You Up EP, I was really looking forward to this one. And it hasn’t disappointed, it’s just as good as it is different from his previous release. Where Love You Up featured a heavy amount of 90′s RnB influence and sampling, Saturn: The Slow Jams has more electro elements and shows a definite progression in T.I.P.’s production and vision.

After a short Introlude, we are introduced to the first main track, Moonstruck. For me, what makes this track work so well is the contradiction of bright optimistic sounds to tell a seemingly solemn story. The melancholic vocal samples, which come in the form of a male/female duet of murmurs and declarations of love are backed by bright, glitchy sounds and a choppy beat, providing a very smooth sonic and thematic contrast to the track. Paint It Red (feat. Mikky Ekko) is the next track, and my personal favourite. The progressive layering of instrumental melodies with vocal samples and a lovely sung vocal is perfectly balanced and beautifully executed on here, and with each closer listen, you really begin to notice the intricacy of T.I.P.’s production talents.

After another short interlude, Optibeat, you’re into the EP’s closer Digital Love Letters. The production of this final track is very much in keeping with the electro-slow-jams theme of the EP, but with a dubbier edge and more impressive and complex beat work. This, along with the lyrical content and chopped and screwed vocals of the track make it very descriptive of current trends in music across genres, and I can’t help but think of it as this generation’s Computer Love. If you want to hear a fresh new take on electronic music, stream the EP below and get it here.

My rating: 7/10