#halfmachine

IMG_0151_2 on Flickr.

Sam Willis is one half of Walls and another half of Allez-Allez. After releasing the sophomore album Coracle last summer with Alessio Natalizia (that's Walls), he is releasing his own debut full length on Half Machine records on 5 November. To promote the album, he's giving away debut track 'Winterval' for free.

Walls are a great combination because they are two different musical personalities. Alessio, as illustrated in his Banjo or Freakout solo work, is more of an orthodox songsmith. He likes to construct stories with guitars and melody lines, voices and vocoders, cowering calls and climaxes. Willis, by contrast, is the man behind the beats; the soundscapes; the warm, sunny, fuzzy dynamics; the long, loping electronic structures which often surge through Walls' work.

It is little surprise, then, that Willis' wonderful 'Winterval' is characterised by these elements. In its warm pads and delicate hi-hats the beat is somewhat European (Delorean and Plex rather than Guetta) - it's a drive along a beachfront, with the windows down. Distorted guitars (I believe) then herald a slight shift of gear, still subtle and untroubled, with a consistently apparent high end synth note warming that fourth beat. Then, indicating his love for the London scene, there's the odd female vocal - far from regular, let alone domineering. It is a really nice touch, and helps to keep the track rolling along that beachfront.

We can only infer from this that the album will be a slamming success. In a wonderful, almost transcendental way. Keep tabs, and download 'Winterval' for free now.

Pre-order the LP here: http://www.halfmachinerecords.bigcartel.com/