American producer James Cook has quietly built a name for unhurried yet deeply considered electronic music. Debuting on Greta Cottage Workshop back in 2013 with his CD album ‘Sleep Deep, Mountain King‘ and later stepping out under his Black Point alias for two vinyl releases on Cologne’s revered Out To Lunch, Cook’s productions have always carried a sense of clarity and patience.
Long-time readers may remember that in July 2020 we published IA MIX 336 Black Point, a revealing mix and interview that offered insight into his background in music and production techniques. That mix hinted at the direction he would later explore, and ‘EP 2‘ issued through Tokyo-based FORM@ RECORDS (pronounced “format”), extends that trajectory – gathering fragments of the past decade into a finely detailed four tracker.
Opening track “Recursive” crystallises Cook’s approach. From the opening bars, there’s a sense of infinite looping and expansion, ethereal synths interlock with weighty but measured percussion. The track’s structure feels alive, as if each phrase folds back on itself to generate new momentum. Shards of melody emerge and dissolve against a backdrop of immersive low-end pressure, creating a sound that is both crystalline and earthy – an evocative tension that runs through much of Cook’s catalogue.
What makes “Recursive” so enthralling is its balance between intricacy and restraint. Sound design takes centre stage: reverberant textures shimmer with IDM’s detail-oriented precision, yet the propulsion of the drums keeps everything grounded on the dancefloor.
‘EP 2’ is out now via FORM@ RECORDS. Order a copy from Bandcamp.
TRACKLIST
1. Recursive
2. Kinzie
3. Under The Power Lines
4. Rejects Beach