Robert Jarvik, the man who invented the artificial heart, was the inspiration for Tom Ford’s newest release under his moniker Peverelist. Using Jarvik’s work as a precedent study for creating spatially-dynamic and pneumatic music, Peverelist has sculpted the new beat of dubstep in his first full-length, Jarvik Mindstate. I first heard his music in Appleblim‘s Dubstep Allstars 6. Along with Pinch, 2562, Shed and even Pole, Peverelist was a refreshing sound to the bass-driven genre, mixing influences from German minimal dub, jazz and the UK-born genre of dubstep.

The album, released on Punch Drunk records, starts off with “Esperanto”, a song beginning with horns commonly found in the early years of the blues-inspired drum and bass era; think Good Looking Organisation. Quickly it develops into a complex and layered track while maintaining the 2-step dubstep foundation. On “Revival”, guest-produced by Pinch, Ford’s dark and somber mood takes over and Pinch’s basslines lace the track, maintaining the enclosed space reminiscent of Robert Jarvik’s artificial heart.

That metaphor is continued through the album with “Bluez” and “Jarvik Mindstate”. Eventually the track I first recognized “Infinity Is Now” comes in with a much faster tempo. Also the longest track on the album, “Infinity Is Now” remains my choice cut. It’s the climax of the album. Continuing on to “Not Yet Further Than”, “Valves” and “Clunk Click Every Trip”, Jarvik Mindstate mellows out into a jazz and beats-driven composition.

Ford’s music is continuing to experiment while maintaining a precise and varied sound. Jarvik Mindstate is an album with personality and character. It may not be made from tissue and muscle, but like Jarvik’s work, it’s bringing a strong beat to the dense circulatory system that is the dub-driven music scene. As the last track flat-lines, we can only hope Peverelist’s future studio work will be as promising. I have no doubt it will be.