On the evidence of ‘Banquet’, Cubenx is enjoying an exploration of new sounds, breaking free of the techno mould he was previously in without totally leaving it behind. There are some inventive beats and vocals here, nicely structured in the context of an album to give contrasting moods and pictures. The title track crackles with atmospherics, Pris Wayland’s contribution elevating it to a powerfully dark piece of music, while ‘Ryo’ has an endearing offbeat warmth. ‘Drizzling Lemon Pearls’ is a leftfield slow jam, while ‘Our Fire’ is a classy, smoky piece of music. The final track, ‘A Sheltering Sky’, sums things up nicely, a brilliant mix up of beats and glinting metallic textures. A step up from the previous album ‘On Your Own Again’, this record shows off even more of the Cubenx talent and is consistently rewarding night time listening.
5 out of 5
Reviewed by Ben Hogwood
