Portable - Version [scape 029]

[Eikman]

So, let's kick off the new forums with some new tunes, eh?

I hereby highly recommend Portable and his new album "Version". It can be described as minimalistic electronica with a touch of african rhythms and middle eastern influences. Probably the most interesting thing i've heard all year.

On his ~scape debut, Portable (Alan Abrahams) tampers little with the riveting African-house fusion heard on 2003's Cycling (Background Records) but that's neither a criticism nor a complaint, given how incredible Version's nine tracks sound. Born and raised in South Africa and a London resident since 1997, Alan Abrahams again captivatingly merges traditional African rhythms and instruments with house and techno. It's not necessarily Portable's masterful weaving of instruments and layers that's innovative (as other artists do the same in similarly deft manner) but his exotic sound palette [...]

This is taken from an excellent review here , and you can listen to some audio samples on Scape Record's website here.