[Uncanny Valley] (buy vinyl) (buy mp3s)

Dresden’s Uncanny Valley label debuted in the second half of 2010 with the first in an ongoing series ofcompilation EPs. These records cull from a considerable roster, and largely define the label as a haven for new talent. In spite of this, Uncanny Valley’s first solo release comes from label staple Jacob Korn, a reasonably established artist. Unsurprisingly, it paints a more coherent picture than prior records. On “She,” Korn delivers an escalating piano house tune underscored by organic percussion. It’s a soaring track, and clearly the standout here. Yet it also carries a melancholic undercurrent, and for all of its anthemic potential, it’s never exactly euphoric. “Once Love” is similarly dramatic, building itself up in waves. The track repeatedly switches from soft to loud, twice peaking in saxophone-inflected crescendos.

Iron Curtis’ remix of “She” emphasizes a loose bass line and restrained house rhythms, ably reducing the driving force of the original to something with a bit more funk and a bit less theatricality. John Talabot excels in darkly anthemic piano house, and would seem an ideal choice to remix “She.” Talabot often builds his tracks around samples that are a little off, and because Korn’s original is so fleshed-out, it never really seems like the producer finds his footing. Talabot’s rhythm is breaky and slowly jacking, and he loops fragments of the bass line while constantly bringing the synths in and out of clarity. However, the breakdowns lack that essential hands-in-the-air verve. It’s an acceptable alternative to Korn’s original, but lacks the eerily rapturous beauty of his other productions. Nevertheless, the EP is mostly another positive, structurally challenging step for the label.