Sten – The Essence

Would Lawrence by any other name sound just as sweet? With Sten's THE ESSENCE, the answer is definitely yes. On "Daylight," he fully embraces the rhythm, laying out the atmospherics atop the driving beat, while "Unknown Faces" gets more askew with its melodies. This is a Lawrence who's finally decided to go clubbing: listen to the tribal-type drums that kick off "The Gate" or the Detroitian electro of "Squares." The title track itself sounds almost like straight-up Kanzleramt tech-house. But "More Stash" gets back to the more thoughtful tech, though not without its groove. "Take Me to the Fridge" doesn't make much sense, but it doesn't really have to, either, especially since the steady rhythm of "City of Dust" clears things out. But it's the final track, "Way to the Stars," that starts to sound more like the good ol' Lawrence we know and love. It's like he's been here all along!