MR FINGERS – CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES (ALLEVIATED RECORDS)

To say Larry Heard has been out of the albums game for a while is a massive understatement. One and a half decades after his last album – and two and a half since his last as Mr Fingers! – he returns to the format with absolutely nothing to prove. Expectations are of course massively high, so it is understandable if a first listen to ‘Cerebral Hemispheres’ leaves the listener a little underwhelmed. Stick with it though, because this is an album for the long haul, one that undoubtedly comes into its own when sunshine, a pool or a club are involved. Sultry vocals and immaculate production team up rather nicely, with moments of quiet in the early tracks that become ever more meaningful with repeat listening. Gradually the tempo and intensity rises, with ‘Sands of Aruba’ revealed to be a classy, smooth track, then ‘Electron’ a more driven affair. ‘Quazars’ is typical of the progression Heard makes, with its hypnotic pulses that contribute more to an overall mood rather than an obvious quest for outright dancefloor anthems. Understated it might be at times, but here is proof that Larry Heard is still a master of his craft, making house music of a deep and lasting quality.
 
Ben Hogwood
5 out of 5