Forest Drive West

East Londoner Joe Baker produces atmospheric techno and jungle as Forest Drive West. His techno tracks are stripped-down and hypnotic, while his jungle is heavier and explosive, but all of his work explores complex, inventive rhythms. Much of it has appeared on Peverelist's Livity Sound label, including his 2018 full-length debut, Apparitions. Joe Baker began making music around the beginning of the 2000s, when he was a teenager attending jungle clubs in Brighton. He made tracks strictly as a hobby, recording whenever he had spare time, for well over a decade. Along with Kenneth Scott, he formed the duo Moniker, and the two began releasing deep tech-house tracks in 2013. However, it wasn't until 2016 that Baker became interested in releasing his music. Initially, he was going to self-release tracks on a label called Forest Drive West, but the name ended up becoming his recording moniker. He passed off some tracks to Peverelist, and the 12" single "System" appeared on Livity Sound shortly afterward. Rupture London began issuing Baker's jungle tracks, starting with the Jungle Crack EP, which quickly became sought-after. Two more Livity Sound singles appeared in 2017, as well as "Persistence of Memory" on Hidden Hawaii. Several more short-form releases, including an additional jungle EP for Rupture (Set Free), appeared in 2018, leading up to the release of Livity-issued full-length Apparitions. ~ Paul Simpson