Spacek

• Genre: Downtempo

About

Once described as "the Radiohead of soul," Spacek are a U.K. outfit responsible for an unusual and immediately recognizable take on R&B. Utilizing dry, dusty drum machines, they specialize in drunken, scuffed-toe rhythms in the vein of J Dilla's beats; their melodies, though, come from strange, burbly analog synthesizers instead of the sampled vinyl favored by so many of their peers. The result is a hazy, lazy sound reminiscent of D'Angelo's amorous romps, but with narcoleptic circles smudged beneath the bedroom eyes. The group -- Steve White, Morgan Zarate and Edmund Cavill, all of whom go by the stage surname of Spacek -- began recording in the late '90s; debut single "Eve" reinforced an affinity for American underground hip-hop with a guest verse from Mos Def and a remix by Dilla himself. They released their debut album, Curvatia, in 2001 on Island Blue Records before jumping to !K7 for 2003's Vintage Hi-Tech, which found them continuing to refine their restrained, bass-heavy sound. Steve Spacek released his solo debut, Spaceshift, in 2005.

- Philip Sherburne