Thymus by Stephen J. Kroos

Stephen J. Kroos, the veteran Dutch talent who has released countless classics (including two full-length albums), needs little introduction; we're truly thrilled to feature him on this marvelous two-track EP. As can be said for the majority of his more recent work, Kroos continues to push the boundaries of sound design, with elements of techno, deep house, progressive, and downtempo fusing together to create outer-wordly soundscapes. The title cut here, "Thymus," features a variety of bell sounds, as well as a flurry of vox stabs and distorted samples. In the main break, the listener is set "adrift" through an evocative atmosphere, while a robotic vox sample and other effects bleed through the mix. The "hoppy" beat that appears in the "drop" feels especially welcome after this extended interlude. The B-side in this EP, "Inspirience," is a laid-back affair, which magically transports you into a shady grove on a lazy summer afternoon. You can literally hear the bees buzzing and birds chirping, as an otherwise care-free beat gently pushes you along. A variety of tremolo'ed melody lines delicately dance along to the beat, adding to the hypnotic, escapist thrill of the tune.