- Renato Ratier, owner of São Paulo nightspot D-Edge and part-owner of Warung Beach Club, has long been at the forefront of Brazil's underground dance movement. Looking to add a further string to his bow for 2013, Ratier releases his debut EP on his own D-Edge Records.
Reflecting his nation's cultural and musical heterogeneity, all three tracks are collages of disparate sound. "Soul Machine" melds shiny guitar funk with techy grooves, jazzy hooks and stern chords. Busy though it is, this disco-led slice of tech house keeps to an engaging course. "Old Factory" toes a more emotive line, moving from thick and trippy through to lush and progressive with considerable ease. "Play For Me" combines elevated piano lines and dreamy gospel samples with gritty, Daft Punk-esque grunts and catchy synths. While this debut at times feels cluttered, it conveys an invigorating disregard for convention that should ultimately charm even the most critical ear.
Tracklist01. Soul Machine
02. Old Factory
03. Play For Me