B-Side Guys

Musical collaboration at its most effective resembles quantum entanglement—two distinct entities responding to each other across space with such synchronicity that they function as a single system. This phenomenon manifests brilliantly on “BOOMIN,” where producer Carter Fox and pianist Steve Honz transform their years of musical partnership into a composition that defies conventional boundaries of both jazz and electronic music.

The track’s cosmic metaphor—”a piano swimming through a boomtube”—proves remarkably apt. Honz’s keyboard work doesn’t merely float above Fox’s production but actively dialogues with it, creating the sensation of melodic ideas traversing vast distances yet arriving perfectly intact. This interstellar conversation reflects their real-world musical journey, having toured globally together backing R&B legends Freddie Jackson and Regina Belle.

What distinguishes “BOOMIN” from similar jazz-hop offerings is its commitment to genuine improvisational exchange rather than merely layering jazz samples over electronic beats. The composition respects both traditions equally, drawing from Fox’s cited influences of Nujabes and Flying Lotus on the production side while incorporating piano approaches reminiscent of Oscar Peterson and Bill Laurence. This dual literacy creates moments where it becomes impossible to determine whether the electronics are responding to the piano or vice versa—exactly the point of their musical wormhole.

Recording at Philadelphia’s aptly-named Boom Room Studios adds a playful self-referential dimension to the track, which serves as the seventh single from Fox’s forthcoming album “Physics of the Impossible.” This title further emphasizes Fox’s fascination with astronomy, which has informed his “chill-fi” aesthetic alongside his passion for video games. These extramusical influences manifest in the composition’s structure, which seems to compress and expand time like a gravitational field.

Fans of BADBADNOTGOOD and Yussef Dayes will appreciate how “BOOMIN” prioritizes groove without sacrificing harmonic sophistication. Meanwhile, those who gravitate toward Floating Points and Bonobo will find comfort in the track’s atmospheric qualities and textural depth. This versatility makes it equally suited for focused listening experiences or as the soundtrack to late-night coding sessions, study marathons, or contemplative stargazing.

As Fox prepares to release his complete “Physics of the Impossible” collection through Swedish label Insert Records/Insert Tapes, “BOOMIN” stands as compelling evidence that his collaborative approach yields discoveries impossible through solo exploration. By combining their considerable technical skills with genuine wonder at cosmic possibilities, Fox and Honz create not just a track but a temporary escape from terrestrial musical limitations.