Kansas City-based Ryan Maloney, aka Uun, returns to Blank Code with the second installment of his Detroit Works series, pushing new directions for himself and his sound with “Detroit Works Pt.2.”
Uun, dare we say it, has turned a new page in his sound with this release. There’s a new sophistication to the sonics—possibly, you could call it a calm, assertive attitude to express adeptness and comfort with what he wants to say. Some previous releases this last year felt like he was exploring and listening for new ideas, with the message being that he was more interested in sharing his discoveries.
This “Detroit Works Pt.2” EP, in contrast to the Pt.1 EP, is definitely a corner-turned and shows what and how he wants to express as a musician with no hesitation.
The most commonly-expressed element across this release is the solid and strongly held groove that sets everything else up on “Sleeping Bears,” as well as the gentle, yet firm restraint he has on his parts in that same track. “Blood Money Redux” also follows suit with a strong and restrained delivery with what we can assume is a dotted delay background synth really driving the syncopation with the straight beats in front. At no point is anything given away gratuitously. Instead, we’re meant to sit here with these feelings and witness the interactions of slowly built-up intensity.
“Perennial” takes the elements down the same route, but the firm grip gives way to a glowing pad in which the dub chords splash throughout the mix. Ultimately, a calm and gentle groove is set up by these interactions. But still… there’s a lot of care in which Uun feels his way through these part interactions and introductions.
There’s not been much of a change in Uun’s productions; it’s more how things are expressed and how an audience relates to that on this particular EP. Experience will tell you that the soul of the machines is in the hands of the Techno artist.
This EP takes that concept and evolves it into a modern idea, and does it masterfully. “Detroit Works Pt. 2” is an expression of firmness and calmness to reign in what potentially could be chaotic music with zero thought to what is happening, because in every instance, Uun shows an audience he’s with them and fully in control of every element.
-Sean Ocean
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