STFU ‘What We Want’ Review: new electronica act featuring Curve’s Dean Garcia and Bloody Knives’ Preston Maddox.

[rating=4]

Arriving just in time to beat the summer heat, STFU’s What We Want (due July 29th on ELaB Records) is a dusky, chill-inducing delight. The début album featuring the duo of  Bloody Knives vocalist Preston Maddox and the multi-instrumentalist Dean Garcia (Curve) is an unexpected yet welcome treat.

It’s a moody, nocturnal affair, which kicks off with Secret, replete with simmering bass lines and glitchy soundscapes  It sets the mood for what’s to follow: clean yet densely layered soundscapes and Maddox’s angelic droning vocals.

The album covers a variety of electronic terrain, from  dance-floor ready tunes like Deeper and New Shadows to more ominous material like the eerie dubstep-flavored Dead Right and the Massive Attack-esque A Thousand Cuts, which combines hip-hop beats, Middle Eastern melodies and foggy synth textures.

Maddox keeps his vocals subdued and airy throughout, which combined with the chilled-out sonics make STFU a far less aggressive album than their band name would imply.

It also speaks to the underrated skills of Garcia, who handles compositional and engineer duties, weaving a web of synths, ambient guitar, goth bass and atmospheric ear candy throughout to splendid effect.

The title track is a true highlight, propulsive yet sleepy-eyed with its mesmerizing liquid warped bass and Maddox’s trance inducing vocals.

What We Want is a solid showcase for STFU’s bewitching sonic stew. Compelling and hypnotic, it’s a must have for fans of electronic music that’s miles away from wretchedly bland 21st century EDM. Let’s hope their London by way of Austin musical partnership continues, and that their alchemy remains as potent.

Order STFU’s ‘What We Want’ via Bandcamp below: