Los Angeles producer Sam Pool is no stranger to the deep, dark depths of the music scene. Formerly known as SPL, Pool articulated himself for nearly 10 years with drum & bass, dubstep and trap influenced sound before having a spur of inspiration in a divergent direction in the summer of 2014. The change of heart furnished an exciting new opportunity, thus conceptualizing the synth-heavy, tropical taste we now know and love as Champagne Drip.
Pool totes an outstanding arsenal of releases, including Poseidon released on Quality Goods Records in 2016 and stemming as far back as the fall of 2014 with his debut EP Radio Bikini, which saw remixes from respected names such as Big Wild, Mayhem, & Son of Kick. Champagne Drip’s latest EP on Wakaan titled Obelisk is a daring masterpiece, which I personally felt held true to Pool’s retro synth, while still pushing the project in the bass-ridden, swampy direction that Wakaan is most known for.
The first track from the EP ‘Nerf This’ begins with the gentle underwater synths, reminiscent of Pool’s 2016 standalone single ‘Open Your Eyes’, which gently develops into an 80’s melody with long drawn out chords. As the tuned out bass begins to creep into the track, the heavier side of the EP rears its face, as a playful vocal sample drops into a relentless sea of bass, which Pool accentuates with his classic wavy synth patterns and high pitched squeals.
The next tune, titled ‘Argent Energy’, wastes no time getting heavy, with a gripping drowned out bass pattern that washes over you like a tidal wave. A chanting robotic voice chants “Energy” ominously in the background as the energy of the song builds, the bass rising and falling transcendently. A wailing synth pattern highlights the offbeats, which seamless drop into a familiar jungle drum pattern, right before the full extent of the bass in the drop is unleashed.
‘The Portal’, which was featured as the Track of the Day on Insomniac Events, is an accurate depiction of Champagne Drip’s ability to craft a journey within a song, from start to finish. The tune begins with a soft, uplifting synth melody, which transitions into a rhythmic drum pattern before a raspy voice demands “Open the Portal” as the track drops into a wonky pattern of tight bass notes and sinuous, synth patterns. The track as a whole has an organized chaos feel, which is a perfect balance of expert sound design and pushing experimental boundaries.
The final song from the project, ‘Axis Mundi’ is a perfect nightcap to the EP. Hopeful synths and a gentle drumming rhythm are quickly enveloped by an obsessive reverberating pattern, which is contrasted with groaning static bass notes, which adds just the right amount of spice to the tune. The track pauses briefly as Pool introduces a gorgeous melody which reminded me of the gentle lull of a tide on a beach before the oscillating synths return and a humming bass rhythm slowly brings the EP to a close.
Obelisk is an exquisitely intricate project that truly gives the listener a brilliant depiction of the style of Champagne Drip. Holding true to his signature sound, the EP pushes the boundaries of dubstep, with undertones of jungle drums and just the perfect touch of freeform bass to keep you on your toes. We can’t wait to see what Sam has in store for us in the coming year :)
