Frankfurt creative producer duo Granite Head bring an impressively unique set of flavours to modern summer house and instrumental dance music. Their latest two-track EP highlights a diverse fusion of influences and stylistic preferences, and at the same time delivers an immersive and colourful dream space, within which the music can either energise or deeply soothe; depending on what you need from it.
Beginning with Calcination, we’re led by a fairly familiar chord pattern and soft, lo-fi keys, soon rising through a more energetic melody line, and a build that directs us towards divine clarity.
The movement is perfectly executed, the audio captures this scientific implication quite beautifully, and for the more surface-level experience, it somewhat gives the sense of watching the world fly by through the window of a train. There’s an excitable bounce to the drop, but the rhythms meander and change, the melodies too, and as this 3.15 composition progresses, we get more and more fragments of inspiration – retro distortion and smoother tones alike, all lighting up the space in a distinct and engaging way.
It’s a strong start, a likable and skilfully mastered set-up, balancing creative freedom with ability and professionalism, for a recognisable Granite Head sound. Then as we move into Frozen River, it becomes clear that the duo compose with a sense of purpose and theme. The titles represent a scene and experience, or story, and everything from the sounds chosen to the pace and intensity of the beat, works hard to represent that.
Frozen River is captivating, in a whole different way but also with the same kind of artistic charm and intention. Atmospheric sounds and reggae-like rhythms introduce things, and we fall in to the groove, lightly at first, later embraced by this quirky bassline and tribal beat combination.
Once again, this track is incredibly distinct, unmistakable even, for its fusion of sounds, melodies, moments, and the overall cinematic and colourful bounce and energy of the mix. There’s even something like a keys solo during the mid-section, maybe an accordion, bringing things back to the live stage – the more clearly human side of expression. And things continue to evolve, unexpected twists of colour and instrumentation, all crafting a world-music stomp of a track that’s a little like a short movie in itself.
This two-track EP is part of an upcoming full-length album from Granite Head, set to be released in September. The way in which the band have balanced their passions for music with a clearly thought-out, meaningful creative concept, and their versatility and skill united, has resulted in two superb original works, and these are a fine testament to the quality and playfulness we can hopefully expect from the album.
Download the EP via Apple. Find Granite Head on Instagram & X.
