- Underground house is popping off in Utrecht, Holland. Thanks to people like Wouter S., 44Bass and the SlapFunk crew, the Dutch university town has over the past few years become one of the top spots for bass-driven house music. 20-something Locklead is the next name to watch out for. Last month, the Utrecht label Soulfood dropped his first solo 12-inch, Good Times, which featured techno-heavy kicks and sprinklings of classic house and bassline. His latest record jacks up that medley a few notches.
The influence of Shed's Power House label is abundant in opener "Deepcore," which pivots around thunderous Head High-style drums and crunchy cymbal crashes. Rave horns add an extra wildness to Locklead's all-out crowd-pleaser. On the B-side, "Diversity" is fundamentally British with its woodblock bits, fidgeting energy and MC shout-outs. There are classic sirens and glass bottles tinkering away in there as well, not that Locklead gets carried away with the nostalgia; "Diversity" is a homage with its own twist. Surly 2-stepper "Take One" feels more indebted to vintage El-B and his "nu-dark swing" sound of Ghost. But again, it's all re-contextualised rather than straight-up retro.
TracklistA1 Deepcore
B1 Diversity
B2 Take One