- The most notable quality in J.Tijn's early music was its brute force. Since then, the London producer has continued to work with the same tools—distortion and, well, more distortion—but he applies them in increasingly finessed ways. Half Empty Half Full is a high point in this regard. Marking Tijn's return to WNCL, home to the gauzier house explorations of 2013's Flat, it's one of his most seductive releases.
Well, the first half is. "HEHF" and "Fat Controller" are still pushed way into the red, but their churning grooves are soothed by cool pads. Combined with structures that favour extended looping over jackhammer drops, the effect is hypnotic. The former track, with its economical house swing, is particularly nice.
The EP's other half does away with the chords for a pair of weightier chunk-outs. "Malaria" sounds a little too graceless in the context. The eighth instalment in Tijn's ongoing "Decimated" track series is a slow-mo drum machine exercise of fine calibre. Compare it to the overly dysfunctional "Decimated #4" on Flat, and it's clear that Tijn is headed in the right direction.
TracklistA1 HEHF
A2 Fat Controller
B1 Malaria
B2 Decimated #8