- The second 12-inch from Argot, one of two labels run by Steve Mizek—the founder of Little White Earbuds, a website I sometimes freelance for—is a master class in balance. In "Finally," the blocks selected by Chicago's Olin—a pulsating bassline, barely-there snare patters and spooky, wavering synth blasts—are so plain that they couldn't possibly seem to hold any real thrills. But, just like the first half of Oskar Offermann's under-appreciated "Drive Me Home Please," each little part is so well-chosen that you'll find yourself helplessly locked into the track's incessant groove, mouthing along with its cleverly sliced refrain, "fin-ally, fin-ally, finalleeeeee."
"Tomorrow's News" is totally different, offering up a menagerie of densely-packed, delicate-sounding melodies. The 303 heads up this pack, but it's not thrust in your face. Nothing is, really. From the track's slappy, water-logged percussion, to its dreamy arpeggios and insistent chiming bells, everything feels serenely in tune with its neighbours. Where "Finally" is made for keeping dance floors at a low simmer, this one is perfect for calming them right down.
Tracklist A Finally
B Tomorrow's News