Review: On “FWR05,” Friends With Robots Show Us The (Post) Future
–Written by Kevin Madert
Our favorite Boston-area production collective is at it again: Friends With Robots made our week on Tuesday, releasing the fifth installment of their monthly mixtape series. The collection overflows with pepped-up post-future bass music, offering the listener seven tunes well-suited for the euphoric warmth of spring. From the first moments of Alex Coco’s tape opener I knew this would be another home run for FWR. “Bae” bubbles with warm, infectious synths and well-crafted oscillations, not to mention several late track stop-start maneuvers that keep the ear engaged and the hand reaching for the replay button. Other first-listen standouts included Stel*Leo’s smooth “Little Deaths” (featuring tasteful vocal work from noé), eli dawson’s keyboard-driven “Katy’s Tears” (perhaps the most contemplative Katy Perry has ever sounded), and the hyperactive bounce of Jake Maxfield’s spin on “Please Don’t Stop The Music” (the sinister-sounding trap break midway through is a highlight of the tape).
One of FWR crew’s greatest strengths is their mastery of nuance. Duncan James’ rework of “Just Ask” exists somewhere between a minimal Exmag tune and a malfunctioning game of Super Mario, with a variety of percussive elements keeping sporadic time throughout. The no-nonsense drum patterns and keyboard loops found in Truro Crook’s take on “Snow Bae” drive much of the song and make the second-half tonal shift that much more effective. Perhaps the best exampe on FWR05 is FSR’s remix of “Window Seat.” The producer makes a wise decision in allowing Erykah Badu to steal the show; he compliments her soulful vocals with a bevy of bass and beats but never allows them to grow overpowering.
As we’ve said before, these are up-and-coming producers who sound anything but. Pick any artist under the Friends With Robots banner – odds are their production acumen is formidable, their sound design is top-notch, and their work ethic is through the roof. It’s a formula for all sorts of success in the future; with friends like that, how can you go wrong?
You can stream + download FWR05 in full below.
FWR05 Tracklist:
1. Alex Coco – Bae
2. Erykah Badu – Window Seat (FSR Remix)
3. Stel*Leo – Little Death (Ft. noé & FSR)
4. Rihanna – Please Don’t Stop The Music (Jake Maxfield Remix)
5. eli dawson – Katy’s Tears
6. FSR x Wessanders – Snow Bae (Truro Crooks Remix)
7. Weird Inside – Just Ask (Duncan James Remix)
Connect with FWR: (Soundcloud | Facebook | Official site)