DFRNT aka Alex Cowles, has put out a string of critically acclaimed releases via his own Echodub, and London’s, On The Edge imprint, since his arrival on the scene in 2008, had his track ‘Headspace’ remixed by Scuba which featured on the producer’s Sub:Stance mix CD for Ostgut Ton, and maintained a consistently forward-thinking approach to electronic music throughout this. Here he joins 2020 Vision offshoot FINA Records, alongside the likes of Move D, Leif and Roberto Rodriguez. The release opens with title track ‘Nobody Stop Me feat Caye Slaymaker’, an emotive slice of piano-laden house music. Bulbous, subby bass tones meander around shuffling drums and emotive vocal lines that build for several minutes before a gritty saw wave hook is introduced, upping the energy and adding a direct, driving feel to the cut. ‘Sugar Free’ follows on next, embracing a similar aesthetic to the preceding track, taking beautiful, organic elements and tightly blending them with gritty electronics, Cowles fuses bright string melodies, cosseting pads and crunchy drums with heavily manipulated vocals chops to once again create something intelligent and brilliantly crafted. Entering the latter half of the release we have ‘Start Changing Tempo’, takings things deep with a bright chord progression, subtle, chiming marimba style percussion and a cavernous atmosphere achieved through echoing vocal murmurs and off-kilter reverberated drums. ‘Frisky Disco’ follows, and as the name would suggest, veers things into an eighties disco influenced direction, dropping the tempo with a slo-mo beat, warbling Rhodes, dubbed out guitar and brass licks and R&B vocal samples, creating a fantastic contrast against the previous cuts. Finally to close things Cowles turns in ‘The Way You Look At Me’, the perfect way to wind things down, with heartwarming piano melodies and call and response style vocals.

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