reset_environment - Ace Aura

The good: Ace Aura brings to the future riddim table his Disciple Round Table EP "reset_environment", a project that packs a hefty punch. Ever a pioneer in the space, Ace Aura's sparkling synth runs and intense dubstep leads are recognizable, but I have to commend the experimental aspects of this EP. Future riddim often finds itself falling into repetitive territory, but "reset_environment" deftly avoids that in its intensity and ideas — the production, yes, but also the structure. A devout Christian, Ace Aura brings an element of mysticism to "reset_environment", weaving in Biblical motifs and allowing the tracklist to hold a very nice structural motif of a 'new world'.

The bad: To me, it's the production that lets this down. Failing to provide a foundation for his experiments, Ace Aura's intense leads fall short of hard-hitting, instead landing as painful and poorly mixed. Screechy and abrasive is great when done well, but unfortunately it's not done well here, and my expectations for this project were definitely missed. I suspect I grimaced more than I should have, and not in a good way — there are a couple of bangers, yes, but a few too many misses.