Claro Intelecto - Second Blood

Claro Intelecto
Second Blood
Delsin

Mark Stewart's Claro Intelecto moniker has been a cornerstone of the Modern Love family since his first release on the label back in 2005. Since then he has carved a distinct identity through his sound and developed a back catalogue admired and respected far beyond his Manchester roots. Though he released consistently, and exclusively, on Modern Love throughout the latter half of the 2000’s, his recent output has been considerably more muted. He’s lent his hand to a few remixes, for the likes of The Black Dog, OCH and Svreca, but this is his first new production since ‘New Life’ emerged in March 2010. Not an eternity, but it’s been long enough to see friends and label collaborators, Andy Stott and Miles Whittaker, emerge with new sounds and projects that have seen them pushed into the limelight. If dark, haunting electronic music has a limelight.

So, when Claro Intelecto does reappear, it is not quite where we would expect to find him. Both ‘Second Blood’ and his new album (due out in March) appear on the consistently excellent Dutch imprint, Delsin. Whilst not wholly illogical, and there could be any number of reasons for the move without trying to suggest trouble at mill, it does come as something of a surprise.

It is a move that fits well though. A less dense sound, a rounding off of the square bass punctuation he has explored previously and a deeper, Detroit influence all make Delsin a natural home away from home.  Less menacing and less forceful than ‘New Life’, it is not a wild departure, more a reflective refinement. Whereas tracks such as ‘Back In The Day’ rattled along, demanding peak time attention, ‘Second Blood’ is considerably more subdued.

The title track is stunning. A static wash and gliding synths are collected by a deep, reverberating bass line that ambles lazily onwards, deviating occasionally as you lurch from beat to beat. Warm pads and peaking strings add a lamentful edge and massage you with a soothing, blissful touch.

‘Heart’ is just as beautiful with a light, contemplative feel that builds gently around a submerged bass and singular sonic bleeps. The lush melody and synths coax you along, cushioned on soft pads and a flickering snare that promotes a tranquil, Detroit house sensibility.

Both tracks drift along with a barely perceptible force, yet still captivate and hypnotise with every movement. After a hushed introduction, ‘Voyeurism’ is more propulsive, bouncing along at 114bpm with a sterner kick, and claps that incite rather than entice, before more acidic notes and hats emerge to deliver a more familiar warehouse session.
Adopting a slower tempo than any of his previous work, it would be easy to draw comparisons with Andy Stott’s recent output but I think that would be doing Claro Intelecto a disservice. ‘Second Blood’ is far less abrasive or heavy than ‘We Stay Together’ and is much closer to Workshop material in temperament, with a calm, humble sound that engages you in an honest, simple way.

This is an excellent and very welcome return from a producer with proven pedigree and tremendous talent.

Listen to Claro Intelecto on Pulse Radio