Swag is a funny thing. Whilst it’s become something of a buzz word thanks to the rise in popularity of the Californian skate crew cum rappers Odd Future, they even had Mos Def repeadtedly (and rather cringeworthingly if we’re honest) screaming it down the camera lens on a prime time US chat show after a rousing performance of lead voice Tyler ,The Creator’s ‘Sandwitches,’ the phrase’s essence still rings true. To present yourself as being ‘swag’ or to have something that can be referred to in the same breath is a good thing – although there are underhanded connotations with burgulars stealing someone else’s possessions and cramming them in a bag with the letters SWAG stamp all over it – and no matter who you are, what you do, or how you do it there are ways you can present yourself that will maximise your swag factor.

Someone like EPROM, a US producer currently residing in San Francisco has been quietly honing his own swag quota for a number of years now. His relentless quest for big drums and attnetion destroying synthesizers has seen him release work on labels like Surefire Sound, Rwina and even a split 12” with Eskmo on the globally renowned Warp label – at the same time he’s been putting out super hectic beats like ‘Rubber Sheets’ on self released EPs like last year’s Bay Area EP. In the same vein as producers like Nasty Nasty, or to make a closer to home comparison, Slugabed, EPROM’s music hits low, rooting itself to the floor with big, quaking low end whilst he propels laser guidde synth lines in an array of pretty patterns over the top . Tracks like the Rwina released ‘Lick Out’ are personal anthems; dirty, low slung, seedy digitzed hip hop anthems.

His latest work on Rwina, which was out last month, Pipe dream is a three track EP that in part explores the outer realms of that mid range bass tone that makes you recoil in horror when its deployed badly. The eponymous track is basically a scything bass riff that gets clouded with bubbles and rising chords set over a lollop of a drum beat, one that packs a punch but is at the same time hesitant and a little lazy. ‘Chromium Decay’ is everything all at once, manic distortion clouds, thudding kick drums and clean chords set over the kind of feedback you get when you hold you thumb on top of a live guitar jack and closer ‘The Symbiote’ is an awesome exploration of almost cinematic melody exclusively played on the lower octaves.

With European appearances coming (from 21st May till 11th June – UK readers can catch him in London when he opens the tour and at Glade Festival when he finishes it) and a deep sense of respect oozing out of our speakers everytime we’ve linked EPROM’s music we caught up with the producer, shot him some ‘getting to know you’ type questions and asked him to put together our 82nd Sonic Router Mix.

http://www.sonicrouter.com/2011/05/sr-mix-82-eprom-rwina/

Buju Banton – Murderer
Unknown Shapes – Used to Give a FK
The Bug feat. Killa P & Flowdan – Skeng (Autechre Remix)
Eprom – Aliased
Nicoluminous – Love Sets You Free
Eprom – Gonk
Luke Vibert – Ataride
Darqwan – Said the Spider
DJ Rob 3 – Let’s Go Ravers
Eprom – Psycho
Machinedrum – She Died There
Unknown Shapes – Sounds & Shapes Pt. 2
Eprom – Feldspar
M.A.N.I.C. – I’m Comin’ Hardcore
The Weeknd – High For This (NastyNasty 808 Edit)
Dom & Roland – Can’t Punish Me (Dials Remix)
The Game – Big Dreams
East Flatbush Project – Tried By Twelve (Autechre Remix)
Eprom – Pipe Dream

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