My first encounter with Luke Abbott and his new track, Modern Driveway, immediately conjured up memories of time I spent a few years ago listening to James Holden and Nathan Fake. So it came as no surprise when I discovered this talented man from Norwich has regularly released on the Border Community label of the aforementioned duo.   

Modern Driveway, Abbott’s latest venture, has led him away from Border Community to the Notown label of Gold Panda. This may have afforded him a bit of creative breathing space and fresh perspective. Regardless, the product is a rejuvenated Abbott and a superbly produced piece of accessible electronic music. The new production clearly demonstrates Abbott’s evolving sound and skill. It’s definitely a less experimental venture than his 2010 Holkham Drones EP, with notably crisper textures and beats, and a more soothing tone. For me, the evolution is a welcome one. The echoing and airy keyboard effects, which enter seamlessly halfway through the track, create a gentle crescendo that sent me into a tranquil half smiling trance.

On researching Abbott for this piece it became clear that he is quickly becoming a highly respected producer in certain circles. With comparisons being made to the likes of Four Tet and Caribou, he is being dubbed as one of the innovators in a rising wave of new UK electronic music talent. Modern Driveway will only serve to reinforce this deserved status. There is nothing abrupt about the layers of this track. The timing of the loop entries is superb and it all culminates to create a wonderfully fluid and hypnotic track, for which I must congratulate the talented Mr Abbott. This bedroom producer from Norwich has undeniable talent and I look forward to seeing what the other four tracks on this EP have in store for me as a newly endeared fan. 

One look at the bedroom studio of this ambitious electronic music producer (reminiscent of the control room for the Apollo missions) says a lot about the complexity behind his music’s production. Abbott uses an array of potentiometers, eurotrack modular systems, MIDI controllers and, of course, Doepfer wasp filters. Don’t worry – all meaningless jargon to me too. The point is the creative journey Abbott embarks on when he steps into his studio not only requires a finely tuned ear and musical skill, but also a technically apt mind. It is Abbott’s productions, and notably this new gem Modern Driveway, which demonstrate the layers and extent of his creative talent.

Abbott’s live shows are not to be missed and he is credited for his dance floor friendly sets which promise to take any willing individual on a soothing and mellow journey. The Norwich druid’s new EP is released on the 25th of May and the live show dates will no doubt follow. So if this young electronic talisman man has won you over, as he has me, make sure to catch him in the flesh soon.

Patrick Earls