Rave Review: GiGi FM - Shelter Our Time
In so much of today’s rave music, there is a dark core that haunts every corner, ready to take us into the deepest reaches of the night. And as thrilling as that is, it is equally refreshing to come across music that embraces the sunshine. GiGi FM does that and more on her new EP, Shelter Our Time.
Jungle, in all its disciplined splendour, has already—within the short half-decade of its resurgence—become somewhat over-worn in its narrowly focused drive toward breakbeat oblivion. Although it remains a keystone of the music here, GiGi FM opens the cerebral gates into something much more expansive, offering a genuine breath of fresh air. The breaks harness the wavy, bright arpeggios, keeping them from dissipating into the wide-open sky.
This formula is part of a trend we are beginning to see, with perhaps the most obvious touchpoint being Nia Archives' breakthrough album, Silence Is Loud, which introduced a softer focus to jungle by integrating liquid D'n'B and R&B into something immediately cool, yet also heart-wrenchingly emotional. 4am Kru teamed up with Layla Sibelle on a similar premise earlier this year, with equally compelling results. Perhaps the simplest way to describe this trend is to say that jungle is embracing a gentler and more emotionally open sensibility.
Those of us who seek out open-minded experiences in the club know that its fluidity is what draws us in. Yet it is nearly undeniable how dominant the masculine undercurrent can be. And don't get me wrong—a good thrashing on the dance floor to pummeling beats is a worthy pursuit. But there is something deeply nourishing and balancing at play here that goes beyond the physicality demanded by many other forms of club music.
In a time when masculine energy seems to be dominating elsewhere in the culture, with bullies and misogynists seeing their public profiles elevated, the inner calm found in these tracks feels almost medicinal. Their warmth laps against the soul like waves on an endless, serene beach.
(The Lunatic is an Austin, Texas–based raver spreading the good word through his reviews and blog—and by selling the wildest fucking electronic vinyl around.)
