Thomas Shrubsole's Sub Loam project plunges the listener into night. A time where the slightest movements can produce the largest reactions; cutting through the stillness like a sharp knife whose blade is caught by the moon in a moment. This limited EP, simply titled "2," features two tracks of analogue exploration centered around things that go bump in the night.

The two 10+ minute tracks mine similar territories but have their own identities. Shrubsole does a lot with very little here, achieving depth of sound with a minimal approach and seemingly minimal tech. These cavernous dark ambient pieces largely consist of scattered bass pulses that gurgle and sway about. Barely-there synths hover atop the watery backbone, landing periodically and sinking into the murk, only to resurface again.

Listening to this EP, I keep coming away with imagery of sitting in a secluded marsh, watching the fleeting glow of fireflies punctuating the night air. "2" is at once mysterious and calming. Definitely give this one a listen. 7/10 -- Robert Oberlander (9 June, 2010)