Smith & Selway’s ‘Maximal Mix’ of Updraft displays a delicate texture of sound wrapped delicately about prominent kick crescendos and off-rhythm percussion. Oscillating wildly about, the synthetic soundscape builds throughout the duration of the track. As ‘Updraft’ reaches its peak, atmospheric instrumentation explodes from the canvas of sound. Included are extraterrestrial synth licks and sirens soaring towards the heavens. This is, indeed, a Smith & Selway production taken to the Max of artistic fluidity and sense.

Updraft (Original Mix) is a bit less superb; the defining characteristics of the first track manage to shine through an otherwise bland landscape of simmering techno. The Maximal Mix is a solid power track for any techno set, but the Original would serve its purpose better as a pacemaker build-up track in the beginning of a set. The production layering is more evident on the Original, but this is perhaps because there is less happening than with the first track. Updraft itself envelops a slightly funky, bordering-on-tribal techno vibe quite similar to that of Nic Fanciulli & Zoo Brazil’s Ide EP release several months back.

The Updraft EP’s sound is characteristically that of Christian Smith & John Selway; the duo would have been better off, however, releasing a second track on the EP and allowing the Maximal Mix to serve as Updraft’s original format.