The Welshman’s seventh studio album explores the classic elements of his productions that characterized his early work.
It’s been close to three decades since we’ve witnessed High Contrast make drum & bass and jungle music; and in all this time, one thing he has never failed to do is put a smile on our faces whenever he releases music. Making the blend of cinematics and warm melodies a world of his own, High Contrast has been delivering genre-defining music since 2001.
Along with his famously known technical prowess, what defines High Contrast is his unique ability to evoke joy, nostalgia, and introspection, which translates on the dancefloor into a shared, uplifting experience, ultimately fostering an emotional connection with his listeners. From timeless tracks like ‘Make It Tonight,’ ‘Twilight’s Last Gleaming,’ and ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ to the lasting influence of his first two albums, which helped bridge the drum & bass mainstream and underground, High Contrast’s music is synonymous with innovation.
The iconic Welsh DJ and producer has gifted us with a remarkable twelve-track collection that feels like a time machine, transporting us back to the early 2000s when his music first enthralled us and turned us into emotional wrecks. This album has landed on his Highly Contrasting imprint and comes just over four years after his last long player in 2020, when he released ‘Notes From The Underground.’
The beauty of the album ‘Restoration’ is in its simplicity and how High Contrast captures your mood with the delightful cinematics he’s known for. ‘Overture’ kickstarts the album’s journey with a captivating vocal, and just after that, with ‘Remember Me,’ High Contrast wastes no time in showcasing the core strength of his album—powerful and crispy drums, warm bass, and melodies that make you cry happy tears.
‘Be No Rain’ also features a carefully woven vocal sample before the lush strings and the sweeping melodies hit us over the crispy snares. ‘Lord’ comes next, and if you’re an ardent follower of the genre, you’d think, “Oh wait, ‘Technimatic—Night Vision?'” You’d be right, but only partially. The trumpet sample on both tunes is taken from Bob James’ 1975 record, ‘Dream Journey.’ What sets ‘Lord’ apart is the delicate improvisation of the sample that can be heard in the second half of the tune.
Another tune, another beautifully crafted vocal sample with some rolling syncopations on ‘Happy People’ that carries a gorgeous 8-bit melody, which gives the track a playful edge. Then comes ‘Realise,’ which ascends into its gorgeous synths and pads paired with the airy vocals to create a dreamlike atmosphere that is both futuristic and deeply emotive.
The seamless interplay between nostalgia, innovation, and emotionally gripping music continues on tunes like ‘It’s Alright’ and ‘Loved You So’ until the cinematics make a grand return on the album with ‘On Bass’ and lays the perfect groundwork for the departure of ‘Restoration.’
We’ll need a while to dive even deeper and find all the vocal samples used in the album, but until then you can enjoy the laidback goodness of ‘No Words’ and wait for ‘Patience’ to give you the space to reflect and immerse yourself fully in its soundscapes. Closing yet another High Contrast magnum opus is the title track, which is a testament to High Contrast’s artistic vision that often sweeps us off our feet, leaving us emotionally charged and reflective.
Each track on ‘Restoration’ reflects a journey that merges reminiscence with fresh, forward-thinking sounds and continually reminds us that even after more than two decades in the industry, High Contrast remains at the pinnacle of his artistry, a true master of his craft.
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