Michael Forrest is one of life’s true experimenters. A background in physics, and with a personal musical history that encompasses almost any style you wish to name, he is finally ready to offer the world the fruits of his bizarre labour – the album is called Broken Into Tumbolia, and it has truly got to be heard to be believed. As a record, it is a masterpiece of the cut and paste ethos of much electronic music. As one man’s work, it is a testament to his almost limitless creativity.

“Music for grown ups” is how Michael describes his music, adding “I don’t do cheese.” And while it may well be for grown-ups, it is certainly for those with a healthy playful streak in them. This is because Michael is an artist who plays around with his material, who is constantly innovating and for whom the only purpose served by a boundary is for him to be able to push at it.

Michael is adept at a range of instruments (cello, piano, trumpet) but he was never satisfied making the conventional music that he was producing with the bands he joined as a youngster. He progressed from being the faceless keyboarder player to pulling the strings at the front of the stage in his own solo shows. He has a residency in the creative hub that is his native Camden Town in north London and has brought his unique brand of music to venues all over the UK.

The music showcased on Broken Into Tumbolia is a strange electronic combination of free jazz, hip hop and drum’n’bass, but it all manages to stay head-noddingly funky. The record is an ever-evolving musical soundscape, built around more than a fair helping of bass. Bass is, very much, Michael Forrest’s love. It defines every track, from the infectious beats of ‘Juicy Skin Biscuits’ to the darker edges of ‘Hobgoblin’ or ‘That Yawning Hollow Void.’

“I like dirt,” says Michael. And you can see what he means. You could call this grime, or funk, or electronica. Whatever it is, this is music which is gritty but funky all at the same time. And above all, it is original. Michael Forrest is the sort of musical pioneer that makes you exited to hear what he will produce next.

Get your first taste with Broken Into Tumbolia.

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