- Ed DMX is a pretty varied dude, within the sphere of purist, '80s electronics-driven electro that is. Ghettotech, slower Dopplereffekt-a-like numbers and vocals reminiscent of New Order all feature prominently in the Rephlex affiliate and Motor City outpost Breakin' Records head's back catalogue. That Was Harder, meanwhile, is dance floor functional but melody-heavy with plenty of quirky charm, and also with the ever-present feel that, above all, he's simply exploring: the machines, the sonic combinations and the trajectories of the tunes themselves.
The title track might be so named because, despite the honey-sweetness of the lead line or the blissed out pad spacing itself above, a nasty acid bassline bullies its way through much of the track. It sometimes feels a bit crowded, but along with the relatively rapid-fire section changes "That Was Harder Than I Expected" strays a nice experimental distance from the expected; it makes you make the effort to come to its level, rather than the usual other way round. "Church–Turing Thesis" slows the unfussy breakbeat from 131 to 123 and adds funk via a chunky analogue bass, as wistful synthesisers dream overhead. A more jump-up video game feel and ass-shaking syncopation marks "Make It More Wiggily," but with the same almost-grabbable popping of the sounds. But it's maybe the title of the weirdly mesmeric "Space Invaders Meet Darth Vader" that sums up best what's going on here overall; conspicuously retro, but with a playful, self-referential tongue in its cheek.
Tracklist A1 That Was Harder Than I Expected
A2 Church - Turing Thesis
B1 Make It More Wiggily
B2 Space Invaders Meet Darth Vader