Henzo - Stretford Blues

Finishing off Henzo’s banner 2022 that has seen releases on YCO and Peder Mannerfelt Produktion, the Manchester based producer dials back the tempo into 5 cuts of gloom-ridden dancefloor damagers for his Nervous Horizon debut. Running the gamut of Dancehall, Techno and Drum & Bass, the EP’s refined palette is laser-guided in its intention of favouring groove and atmosphere over melody and hooks.

The opening track, 'Survivorship Bias', rolls out a lurching and smudged drum break over an equally sketchy Donk and vocal sample in a Bolton-meets-Belgium chug affair. 'It’s Our’s and Hours Alone' and 'Writhing' lean more towards a typical Dancehall rhythm, smattered with the reticulated percussion that Nervous Horizon have been known for, saturated and growling. 'His Troublesome Knees' sees a variation on the theme of the opener, with the addition of harrowing, gnarly strings that posit drama in the riff that runs almost throughout; An inescapable tension that juxtaposes the highly danceable groove. Rounding out Stretford Blues, 'A Pocket You Didn’t Expect' feels like 3 tempos at once: 82, 164 and 328BPM. The battering, unrelenting kicks laced over taut breaks and hats hark to Jungle Techno and Tech Step in their composition, but the drawn out and bleak orchestral breakdown ,coupled with a barking irate bassline, suggest that Henzo shows no signs of nostalgia and is moving straight into the future.