Bantam Lions - Recollections

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  • The fifth EP from Liverpool's fledgling Scenery label is an almost entirely Scouse affair, with hometown boys Bantam Lions and the Cyclist joined by Mood Hut's Cloudface. But the pillowy bass notes that roll out of the speakers are more likely to put you in mind of Mediterranean beaches than decaying northern docks. Scenery are still finding a sound—their last release starred John Heckle's storming electro-techno—but if they're after a niche, this wouldn't be a bad one to fill. Both originals are painted from the same palette—gossamer chords unfurl over basslines that curl around you like cigarette smoke. "Recollections" is the sleepier cut, crafted for hazy sunsets, but "Many Years Later" is a straight-up house stomper, the call-and-response interplay between sub and synth urged on by chattering hi-hats. Perhaps realising there's no need to change a note of "Many Years Later," the remixers offer divergent interpretations of the title track. In the Cyclist's hands it becomes a taught, electro-infused house jam. Its pads crackle as though broadcast from a poorly tuned radio as a beefed-up take on the bass bounces below. If his version is the original on Adderall, then Cloudface's is sipping sizzurp. The surviving elements slow to a crawl and seem to slide over each other, without enough to keep them upright. You could transition through each version in a single night, from warm-up to peaktime to after-hours, and have a very happy dance floor indeed.
  • Tracklist
      A1 Recollections A2 Many Years Later B1 Recollections (The Cyclist Mix) B2 Recollections (Cloudface Mix)
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