Hospital's brainchild for more leftfield d&b incarnations, Med School, have wrapped notable works from Martsman, Bop and Fracture & Neptune under a benchmark of consistent quality. Melding techno, ambient and psychedelia traits not so strictly as "genres", more hybridizations that step ahead of the game, Stray's debut on the outlet isn't a letdown in the slightest.

Often, drum & bass artists start their studio sessions with a pad, or a breakbeat, chopping, segueing and modifying according to their desired template. In the field of ambient music, drones are not so much the bridging commodity, but the arc in which the constituent parts are used to cloud, inflect and gravitate towards.

It makes sense that the two genres can learn from one another, but nonetheless d&b's obsession with loudness impairs the naturalistic and analogous dynamism of its bloodline cousin. Stray subverts that principle, merging one of the highlights of Keith Keniff's Eingya album with shrewd drumwork that taps in a light heartbeat, next to foreign ingredients like the pitched up female vocals and higher key synth patches.

There are shades of Boxcutter's melodic chill audible, but this isn't no minimal-cum-dubstep fallacy at hand - Stray understands his sound enough to be compositionally forthcoming, while revelling in suggestive yet sensible rhythm patterns.

What ambient has in subtlety and instrumental plunder, drum & bass can transform via layers of sonic clout. That's not to say fancy edits can hide a poorly realized tune - victims of the build-up-drop-breakdown cavalcade are all too apparent to the discerning vinyl or digital buyer. What's more, following clichés rarely offers innovation, and especially in the atrium of product window shopping, you're not breaking barriers.

So it's pleasing to report, as an ambient otaku, Stray has not only done Kenniff's track full justice, but forwarded a statement of bold humility by simply doing his thing. And that's nothing less than great to see.

Helios - First Dream Called Ocean (Stray remix) is taken from Med School 018: New Blood 010. It will be available in 2x12 vinyl (promoing next week) and CD compilation formats. Stray plays room 2 in Fabric on February 12th.

 

Words: Muttley

 

Related Links:

• Helios - First Dream Called Ocean (Stray Remix)
• New Blood 010 Video Q&A
• New Blood 010 Video Q&A
• Stray Interview / Mix
• Slinkachu Exhibition At Andipa Gallery

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