It’s been three years since Andy Hunter’s huge debut album Exodus and one could have hoped for something more than an EP after such an interval. But that’s my only complaint—and that somewhat muted because at 43 minutes and 45 seconds, this six-tracker has more music than too many full length albums but still comes at an EP-sized price.
And it’s not that Hunter has been idle over the three years. His high-energy sounds have been featured on a number of TV and movie soundtracks (most notably on Matrix previews) and he has toured his electronic worship across the world.
As the titled suggests, the new EP celebrates life. This is perhaps best exemplified by "Alive," a track that samples the heartbeat of Hunter’s then-unborn son and features the soaring vocals of Christine Glass (as heard on Exodus’ standout track "Amazing").
And this is something of a trend across the EP. On the whole, Life stacks up as more accessible than the club-focused Exodus. While maintaining the big sound, high energy electronica motifs, Hunter has focused more on song-writing with more prominent vocals and more pop hooks.
Hunter features three or four guest vocalists and steps up to the mike himself for a number of tracks. He does well for a turntablists and techno geek, charting his music comfortably within his limits, perhaps best demonstrated on the infectiously grooving, Moby-esque "Wonderful."
They say it’s good marketing to leave the punters wanting more—and perhaps that’s Hunter’s plan. If so, he does it well, providing another instalment of great electronic music—but a small one.
Nathan Brown is tall. 