Artist: Tilt
Title: Explorer
Label: Lost Language
By: Simon Jones | 3 February 2005
Tracklist:

1. The World Doesn't Know
2. Goodbye (Edit)
3. Venus In Transit
4. Electronic Poledancer
5. Control Me
6. Tokyo Breaks (Breaks Mix)
7. Twelve
8. Explorer
9. Antivalentine
10. New Day
11. Crescendo

Tilt "Explorer"

Tilt's debut artist album has been a matter of rumour for several years, and as is often the case in the world of dance music has gone through an evolution process in addition to the usual trials and tribulations that seem to effect artists from time to time. 'Explorer' is the fruition of several years of work, which has taken in a variety of changes, both in terms of influence, sound and even team players. From the line of Mick Parks, Mick Wilson and John Graham that gave us such incredible tracks as 'I Dream' and 'Children', things have now moved as Andy Moor takes over from the departed Quivver who left a few years ago. With change comes something different, and this album is an exploration of those changes.

From the opening track 'The World Doesn't Know', it is clearly evident than the club sound of Tilt now has a more melodic, uptempo edge. This track however still maintains some of that dark edge that sat at the heart of earlier work. 'Goodbye' is a continuation of this theme, but in all honesty, doesn't stray too far from it's predecessor in terms of style.

'Venus In Transit' is the first hint of a willingness to diversify on this album, a subtle but effective downtempo piece that really highlights some of the wider ideas and influences that Tilt are trying to encompass, and it does so in a rather effective fashion, easily holding it's own and it reminds me of some of the instrumental work of such bands as Faithless, by no means a bad thing. 'Electronic Poledancer' brings a touch of electro house to the album, but it's point is made fairly on and the track could have easily been shorter. This is followed by 'Control Me', for me one of the standouts of the album. A fusion of breakbeat and electronic sounds, there are some interesting ideas, and the string arrangements and vocals, provided by Lianne Brookson, both bring an extra dimension to the track, paying a passing nod to numerous band influences along the way.

'Tokyo Breaks' explores the electro and breakbeat theme further, whilst 'Twelve' is a perhaps the biggest club track of the album, a haunting ethnic vocal and soaring soundscapes lifting the mood of the album perfectly. This is the penultimate climax as the final few tracks take the path to the realm of downbeat, easy listening tracks, with the title track 'Explorer' and 'New Day' both having somewhat of catchy and happy vibe to them, ending the album on a somewhat reflective and poignant note.

'Explorer' is an album that tries to show depth and diversity, but whilst the album does have it's moments, the club tracks don't quite live up to the Tilt classics of yesteryear, and some of the ideas could have been explored further had the album been longer. Not a bad album by any means, but one that does fall slightly short of the anticipation and expectation placed upon it.