Review Summary: An excellent collection of (bass) music
Considering their modest fanbase, I wouldn’t blame you if you’d never heard of Ivy Lab before, but for the past 5 years the North London duo has been on a tear. After collaborating with Amon Tobin (under his Two Fingers monicker) on the single ‘Orange’ in 2019, Ivy Lab, a collaboration between producers Sabre and Stray, released a series of six EPs as a monthly series between 2020 and 2021 on their own 20/20 LDN label. Through the series, Ivy Lab developed their sound from a style that was a kind of a crossover of halftime drum and bass and hip-hop, to a more open sound where they explore different gradients between many associated genres all within their own framework.
2022’s ‘Infinite Falling Ground’ shows Ivy Lab flexing their production chops again, this time expanding upon their EP series, while exploring a uniquely nostalgic, wistful space.
While four of the fourteen tracks on this full-length album were previously released on EPs, it doesn’t take away from the track mix because the duo is exploring a similar aesthetic throughout this album.
The type of beats on this album kind of defy categorization, which is one of the reasons the outfit is often labeled as belonging to the “future beats” movement. The mix of tracks are all on the slower side, which works nicely with the mood of the album which is somewhere between melancholic and optimistic. There is an ambiance throughout the album created by applying reverb to synthesizers and samples, sometimes surrounding the listener, but other times heard muted from a distance, as if observing a moment in time. The soulful chord progression used express feelings of yearning, contentment, optimism, and somberness. I think it captures the experience of living through the early 2020s.
I have a track-by-track summary but it will be long, so I will talk quickly about the sound palette used on this album, and why it’s so good. Ivy Lab often uses vocal chops in their music ever since their 2018 single ‘Cake,’ but I thought the way they used longer vocal hooks at points on this album like on ‘Our Time’ and ‘Touch & Go’ was effective. In fact, anytime they went for a chilled hip-hop vibe it’s awesome, like on’ Everythingmustchange.’ There are acoustic/analog elements in the percussion and sampling that are layered with digital synthesizer and processed vocals to create a wonderful fusion between digital and analog on ‘Low Risk Offer’.
’Candle Song’ is the highlight of the album for me, where a spacious ambiance created from a vocal sample provides the backdrop for chopped piano and vocals melodies and drums. They’re all elements used in the typical 808 beat, but here they are combined in creative ways to create something unique. One unexpected moment on the album is the end of ‘NOVV’ where the reverb-heavy atmosphere which is present throughout is distorted into an ambient drone.
It’s probably best not to overanalyze which genre you should file this LP under in your music collection, and just summarize by saying ‘Infinite Falling Ground’ is something like an excellent beat tape. It may be a stretch, but I feel like on this album Ivy Lab are closer than ever to producing rap or R&B music. The last track seems like it could have used vocals, and it would be great to see them produce a song for a vocalist.
Score: 4.1
Highlights: Candle Song, Merlot, Everythingmustchange, Touch & Go, Balaclava, Our Time
