Demure, brittle, furtive – not words you’d typically associate with Benjamin Stefanski’s work as Raffertie.

Debuting in 2009 with the ADHD ‘Antisocial’, Stefanski shares a modus operandi with the likes of Rustie, hurling everything at his tracks and seeing what sticks. Take 2010’s Planet Mu debut ‘7th Dimension’ – a broiling brew of hardcore, wobble, juke and neon-bright beat music. The fact that Stefanski called a 12″ Wobble Horror! tells you everything you need to know about the man – or so we thought.

Raffertie’s new EP for Ninja Tune – his third in as many years – promises what pop historians might one day call a Blakean Shift, with Raffertie trading high-energy dance music for vocal-led songcraft and acoustic piano tones.Build Me Up is led by the delicate title track, which sees Raffertie doing his best Jai Paul impression over a frazzled, loping beat. The four-track EP features a cover of Hot Natured + Ali Love’s Ibiza fodder ‘Benediction’, and also boasts a guest appearance from ‘Guillotine’ singer YADI.

Build Me Up is due on May 20 through Ninja Tune. The EP will serve as a trailer for a forthcoming album, supposedly inspired by “the bygone grandeur of the British seaside resort”. [via XLR8R]

Tracklisting:
1. Build Me Up
2. Benediction
3. Trust
4. Known