Point B (aka Merseyside born Richard Bultitude) is acclaimed as “Brixton’s foremost melodic electronic artist” has his debut album released on Combat Recordings.

By contrast with the ‘dark knight’ that is King Cannibal (who had ‘Badman Near Dark’ out on Combat last year and his debut album Let The Night Roar released on Ninja Tune on Monday), the twist with Point B is that he draws influences from a broad canvass like a Burial, Flying Lotus or even a El-B.

And it’s not long before his inventiveness catches you’re ear, after the bitty-bass bin opener ‘Weightless’ there’s the sweet haunting of tracks like ‘Candour’ and ‘Someone Else’s Past’ where electronic and acoustic worlds meet. As a fan of dubstep, hip-hop, 2 step garage, Point B is different to your average bedroom/basement bin head as in addition to the samples and drum machines, he also plays live instruments like his santoor, Irish harp, dulcimer and marimba and his works best on the suitably entitled ‘Guilty Pleasures’.

More ‘traditional’ Mary Ann Hobbs territory is ‘Bathed In Night’ and the wobble of ‘Minerals’ and ‘Headland’.

And then as a counter to the bass beats, there’s the cinematic “warm electronica” of ‘Further Thoughts On Movement’, ‘Alien Language’ and the fantastic ‘Wingform’.

The track that best represents the album’s multi-directions is the title track ‘Suicide Beauty Spot’ that’s full of foreboding doom with some additional percussion on a structure that elevates and “offers impressive views over London” and the electronic music scene.

Perhaps it’s because he is currently resident in Brixton that is sound is more underground beats inspired since his debut album in 2006, A Previous Version Of Myself. With past live performances at Festivals in Europe (including the Bloc weekender), he’s played alongside the likes of Andrew Weatherall, Tipper and Lusine. We’re told that the launch party will be in London at the Corsica Studios (see details below) as part of Plex’s 3rd Birthday celebrations that will also feature Berlin’s Hard Wax as well as other Combat Recordings (Understandably selling out fast).

Suicide Beauty Spot is an usually and special set with that’s packed with tracks that will have a shelf life longer than this weeks’ next best thing; definitely one to follow.

Reviewed: Point B - Suicide Beauty Spot (Combat Recordings) Cat. COMBAT024 Release date: 26th October 2009
Tracklisting:
1. Weightless (4:52)
2. Candour (4:46)
3. Guilty Pleasures (5:18)
4. The Beckoning (2:17)
5. Bathed In Night (4:06)
6. Minerals (4:21)
7. Further Thoughts On Movement (4:42)
8. Someone Else’s Past (5:03)
9. Alien Language (2:55)
10. Suicide Beauty Spot (4:34)
11. To Follow You (4:17)
12. Headland (4:55)
13. Wingform (4:12)
14. Forgotten Ritual (2:34)

Links:
www.point-b.co.uk
www.myspace.com/pointbmusic
www.combatrecordings.com
Plex 3rd Birthday - Hard Wax & Combat Recordings Special!
Scorn, Elemental, Vainqueur, Scion, Substance, Point B, Norman Nodge, Stormfield, Strepsil, Ancient Methods, Matt Whitehead, Luke Handsfree, dask, James Tec, Stuart Lowman and René Löwe “Hey, the Plex third birthday party is scheduled for October 30th and outrageously big is the only way to describe it really” Corsica Studios, Unit 5, Farrell Court, Elephant Road, London SE17 1LB www.corsicastudios.com www.wegottickets.com/event/56990
“Hornsey Lane Bridge” but locally known as Suicide Bridge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A1_road_(London)