- Homeland is a big deal for Australian producer Safire—it's his first solo EP since 2008, and it's also his debut proper for the esteemed label Dispatch. The record is heavy on collaborations (seemingly his preferred mode of working), but the attention is firmly on Safire, and he doesn't disappoint. Offering a more nuanced take on barreling techstep, his appeal lies in pure polished perfection, with just enough melody to make it stick. Nothing here deviates from that familiar formula, but it's done so well that it's exciting anyways.
The title track is a spacious tune with a healthy helping of reverb. Safire opens up the usually aggressive sound with a wide soundstage, and his free-floating basslines ripping through the ether. He collaborates with DRS on "Hurdles," a hi-tech stepper that lets off little sound effects as it zooms on by. He then teams up with Minor Rain for "Transit," which is more compact but flush with big, dramatic chords. Ticking the requisite drum & bass-producer-does-dubstep box, "Face Your Fear" might actually be the best track on the EP. With a livelier swing than minimal, Youngsta-style dubstep, the growling basslines are almost sexy as they push against the thrusting backdrop.
TracklistA Safire - Homeland
B Safire & DLR - Hurdles
C Safire & Minor Rain - Transit
D Safire - Face Your Fear
E Safire & Cern Ft. Medusa - Timeline