EP Reviews: Tomas Barfod – Broken Glass

Tomas Barfod – drummer and producer for Danish electronic groups WhoMadeWho and Filur – has certainly worked in a diverse array of styles. Across the last ten years, he’s produced everything from J-pop to ambient techno, while also remixing established acts from Shakira to Franz Ferdinand and being released on tastemaker dance labels Kitsuné and Kompakt. His is a portfolio as eclectic as it is exciting.

It’s unsurprising then that Broken Glass – the first single from his upcoming solo album Salton Sea – catches you off guard stylistically as soon its ethereal guitar lines come serenely dribbling across the ether. Slowly building to a lovingly crafted climax of warm synths, pulsating beats and emotive, sampled vocals, it’s an affecting listen that’s a promising sign of things to come.

A slow-burning techno number perfectly suited to dancing the night away, B-side ‘Beach Party’ couldn’t be more aptly named. It’s a rousing enough tune, even if it can’t quite compare to the more impactful ‘Broken Glass’.

The EP is nicely rounded out by two remixes of its title track. The first, by German house/techno producer Jacob Korn (who’s of no affiliation to the nu-metal juggernauts), is a pleasant enough reworking; it takes the original into Detroit techno territory, fusing chopped piano figures to stuttering beats. The second is a far darker mix courtesy of Barfod’s FoF labelmate Shlohmo. Its skewed vocals, heavy bass weight and murky, smoke-riddled production giving ‘Broken Glass’ a sound not far removed from the witch house school of thought.

Neither remix, however, can compare to Barfod’s delicate original, and that’s high praise in itself. If Barfod can match the excitement of this preceding single across a full-length record, we could be in for something very special indeed.

AC

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