- The best minimal tracks aren't just snazzy loops, but worlds to get lost in. That's something Cristi Cons, a former student of classical music, knows well. The most memorable tunes in the Romanian producer's discography, which dates back to 2010, are more than cuts for the club—they're deep, meditative trips. Perceptual, Cons' first double EP, contains four more. Ranging from the melodic to the abstract, it's a well-rounded collection of tracks from a producer who aims to bewitch.
With music this stripped-down, progression within tracks is essential, and the tunes on Perceptual have plenty. They're murky, the kind of tracks that connect with clubbers' minds more than their feet. Kick drums are entwined with muddy basslines that feel more psychedelic than functional, as muted percussion and snippets of synths rattle around higher in the mix. "Arual," the only track with a real melodic presence, will likely get the most spins. There's a hint of melancholy in a short riff that could be from a detuned violin, but a loud clap and an open hi-hat give the track a boost. It's hard to think of a situation outside Club der Visionaere and a handful of clubs in Romania where "Celestial," "Perceptual" or "Mutual" could work, but any clubber still standing by the time they're appropriate to play will get taken to another place.
TracklistA Aural
B Perceptual
C Celestial
D Mutual