DFRNT - Emotional Response EP

Released: 18th July 2011
Label: NuDirections
Format: CD & Digital

01 DFRNT - True
02 DFRNT - Faster Daddy
03 DFRNT - Slumber
04 DFRNT - Short Bus
05 DFRNT - Relentless
06 DFRNT - Rampant Behavior
07 DFRNT - So Far Away
08 Unquote - Cold Tenderness (DFRNT Remix)
09 DFRNT - Short Bus (Jus Wan Remix)
10 DFRNT - True (Jack Dixon Remix)
11 DFRNT - Slumber (ASC Remix)

Press & Feedback

DFRNT is the vowel-less moniker for Edinburgh’s bass-music experimentalist Alex Cowles. Following his acclaimed debut on Echodub in 2009, ‘Metafiction’, DFRNT has carved a niche for his own style of deep, forward thinking dubstep and techno productions. This project, a year in the making, bore fruit after Alex was commissioned to remix Unquote’s ‘Cold Tenderness’. ‘Emotional Response’ is an extended player that ticks all the boxes. Stealthy musical outings ‘True’ and ‘Slumber’ sit perfectly alongside dancefloor jaunts ‘Faster Daddy’ and ‘Relentless’ while the euphoric ‘Short Bus’ typifies everything that great about bass-music at the moment. Throw the emotional ‘So Far Away’ and the heavily dub influenced ‘Rampant Behaviour’ into the mix and you have an eclectic collection of tracks that define Alex’s DFRNT sound.
NuDirections

Cool set from Edinburgh's DFRNT, crossing lines between Dubstep, dubbed Techno and electronica, with remixes by ASC, Jus Wan and Jack Dixon. Styles are sweet and breezy but driving throughout, from fragrant, vocal-lead 2-step on 'True' through the balanced, Mala-esque pressure of 'Faster Daddy', shuffled Breakstep for 'Short Bus' and spacious rollers vibe of 'Rampant Behaviour'. The Jack Dixon remix of 'True' spins him deeper into the floor with more robust drums, while ASC impresses with a darting, techy rework of 'Slumber', surely the highlight of the album.
Boomkat

Edinburgh-based DJ, producer, blogger and Echodub label owner DFRNT (aka Alex Cowles) has chosen an apt title for his second full-length. Perhaps more than any other dubstep or dub techno producer, Cowles makes music designed to provoke an emotional response. In parts deep and melancholic, in others bright and breezy, Cowles' tracks are influenced as much by classic IDM and electronica as Basic Channel or the mellow junglisms of LTJ Bukem and the Good Looking label. As a result, Emotional Response is an easy, rewarding and highly enjoyable listen, flitting effortlessly between sturdy dancefloor grooves and satin-lined headphone fodder.
Juno

Support from Mary Anne Hobbs, dBridge, Rob Sparx, Addison Groove, Ally McRae (BBC Scotland), Muslim Alim, Markle to name a few as well as reviews in IDJ, Trap, DJ Mag, Sonic Router and Resident Advisor.