Cheetah EP

Released in 2016 on Warp Records, Cheetah EP represents a fascinating conceptual exercise for Richard D. James. The EP is named after and programmed using the Cheetah MS800, a late-1980s synthesizer infamous in the electronic music community for being exceptionally difficult to program and possessing a thin, digital sound. Rather than fighting these limitations, James leans into them, coaxing surprisingly warm, liquid, and hypnotic melodies from the machine. The tracks are sequenced with a Cirklon hardware sequencer, resulting in a highly structured, circular rhythmic feel that stands in sharp contrast to the chaotic, fluid structures of his Syro-era work. The release was accompanied by a retro-styled marketing campaign mimicking 1980s instrument advertisements, emphasizing the hardware-centric nature of the project.