FILM Moves From Spacious Techno To Melodic Tech-House On 'Nihon/ Fuse', With Remixes From Blurry Slur & Sublime Sound

The name of the game remains gradualness for Sanil Sudan aka FILM (and sometimes Tyrell Dub Corp) even as he slowly moves out of the vast weightless atmospheres of minimal and dub techno, where unintrusive low-end melodies provide a meditative hook to stay grounded as textures unfold from subtle to buzzing, on 'Nihon'. As the hinted melodies and countermelodies fully form and take centre stage in the breakdown, FILM could have dropped us back into the atmospheric genres he started with and taken home a perfect win rooted in one heady style. But that is not what 'Nihon', or its encapsulating EP – which contains another track 'Fuse' from his live set and a respective remix for each – is about.

To a slight dismay for someone more drawn to the textural but for a greater adventure in the context of the full EP and FILM's discography, 'Nihon' moves to new directions of melody-driven house and tech. For someone more a fan of the latter genres, Sublime Sound's remix of the track fully roots itself in the hooks to draw out the upbeat nature of the final segment.

'Fuse' too carries the inter-genre combination but more subtly. Neo-lounge vocal samples, mellow pads and arpeggio hooks contribute the accessibility of house, carried forward by Blurry Slur's remix, while the fizzling interplay of drums and basslines adds the edge.

The release is a genre-bending win for anyone who enjoys all the genres the EP bends, and a tantalising listen for one who cares for one style but not the other (tech house tends to be a contentious style in some circles). At the least, it's adventurous for not sticking to familiar strengths.