Having already dabbled his toes in the colourful, chromatic waters of dance music, Darren Williams aka Star Slinger began to find himself constrained to certain genres and artists, a convention that his extensive vinyl collection would simply not allow. So despite receiving plays from Radio 1 as well as support from Paul Van Dyk, Williams spread his roots, and took up producing beat tapes, and with just one listen to his recent release Volume 1, it appears there has been no hesitant looking back from Star Slinger.
Coming in at just over thirty minutes, Volume 1 is a turbulent and pulsating ride, racing through all genres from reggae, 90’s soul and 80’s hip hop. There is no doubting Darren’s skills at mixing and sampling, so it’s no surprise to learn that he’s been producing since he was 14, spending his pocket money on purposefully purchasing a computer for that very use. First two tracks Mornin’ and Minted are fantastic introductions, the hand clapped beat on the opener is distinctive and complimented beautifully by the soulful vocals.
Dutchie Courage is arguably the most adventurous moment on the record, sampling the classic 80’s track by Musical Youth, underlaying a simple yet infectious beat. Uplifting, jovial and blissful, a brilliant example of the skills Williams has at his disposal. He hasn’t completely shunned his dance roots, and some of the vocal samples especially could easily fit into a Saturday night floorfiller, however it’s the way in which Star Slinger constructs and ties the tunes together that makes the record. There is a sparkling kaleidoscopic feel to Volume 1, each tune takes the record in a different, erratic direction, yet it’s insanely enslaving. Family Friend includes a reggae style beat, with a tinkling piano, an exotic but triumphant sound.
Volume 1 by Star Slinger goes to show that as well as having dazzling skills, it’s also of vital importance to have a wide and impressive knowledge of a variety of music styles, allowing him to collate ideas magnificently. As if the release itself wasn’t enough, you’ll also be please to know that Darren Williams has thoroughly embraced the musical download culture we live in today, by making Volume 1 available for free download from his official site. Make sure to check back in the next few days for an interview with Star Slinger.