berkeley hunt: a ghostly tryst
Francisco Espregueira
Soul Quest Records catalog number 14 unveils the 4-tracker A Ghostly Tryst, the latest offering from the enigmatic Berkeley Hunt. Though just beginning their production journey, Hunt's unique sound serves up a dazzling array of simmering, jazz-laden atmospheres. Their musical universe is steeped in "shadowplays," where subtle, in-between moments resonate with the same power as meticulously constructed ones, inviting the listener's imagination to unravel the sonics for maximum effect. Revolving around modern jazz and broken beat, Hunt navigates evolving soundscapes with impressive dexterity, displaying a wondrous unpredictability in compositions where the destination feels as elusive as the present moment is deeply illuminating and fulfilling.
A Ghostly Tryst continues Hunt's journey with a lush, romantic twist. The EP kicks off with "It Called," an enthralling opening salvo of filtered piano chords and a whispering kick, leading into a clear vocal line that ignites the intensifying percussion. "Wicked Sins" then stirs to life with a characteristic Hunt rhythm that continuously shifts, underpinned by a haunting atmosphere, eerie synths, and vocal samples. Adding another dimension, house producer wizard Stefan Ringer delivers his take on "Wicked Sins," a hypnotic remix that retains the original's magic while offering a precise, tropical-night shifting groove. The EP culminates with "Lost in the Delirium," a tour de force showcasing Hunt in full flow, where glassy chordal notions strike across an emphatic percussive outlay, leaving listeners with vivid memories and poetic images. Available on Bandcamp.