- One of the most influential labels of the past decade takes a well-deserved victory lap.
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In an interview with Laurine and Cecilio—who make up half of the German collective Slow Life up alongside S. Moreira and Indi Zone—they described their music to me as "alien deep." It's a term I kept returning to while listening to Chromophore Vol. 2. At first pass, "alien deep" feels like an oxymoron. How can something be both celestial and terrestrial, after all? But it also captures something central to the Slow Life sound. The earthy chords on Cecilio and Laurine's "Era Un Ravero," contrast the earworm arpeggio that blasts it into the stratosphere. This interplay defines the eight tracks of the second Chromophore compilation, which surveys the irresistible sounds that have made Slow Life one of the most important labels of the past decade.
Indi Zone's "Contessa" wobbles between the heavens and earth as he uses slow moving, shuffling congas to ground the otherwise spiraling 303 lead. Paolo Mosca's contribution, "Digital Connection," pulls lush dream house pads into a black hole. It feels like listening to an album rather than a typical compilation, a strength the original Chromophore shared. You could easily imagine a DJ mixing between the two discs for an hour, starting off with the stoned breaks of Primary Perception, upping the ante with Alex Neri's prog-influenced "Moods," then dialing things back down with Minor Planet affiliates Formas' wistful, acidic downtempo closer.
This consistency is impressive when you look through the producers assembled. Take Luis Malon. Although he's released on Slow Life before, his recent output has been big and brash and EBM-inspired. But his team-up with S. Moreira is a slice of glossy daybreak house. Neri's contribution "Moods," has all the elements of an anthem—soaring melodies, rave chords, even an extended breakdown—but in typical Slow Life style it's filtered and hazy, like patching together holiday memories from Polaroids. The only real curveball is from newcomer Lost Twin, whose "RR2099" has a post-dubstep feel with its basketball bassline and chopped vocals. Then, suddenly, it melts away into a whimsical breakbeat, a bit like if Blawan had started hanging at Club Der Visionaere instead of Berghain in 2009.
When Slow Life released the original Chromophore in 2016, it would go on to define the sound of a scene. Deep house with contemporary drum programming (and a smattering of breaks), bright synth work and basslines so big you could practically see them contract and expand. Slow Life have since become something like the old guard of the new minimal sound—a collective of tastemakers who continue to push the scene in new directions. Although the term "minimal" still rubs many the wrong way, it's hard to discuss its newest form without mentioning Slow Life. More than a specific sound, what they've done is define minimal as a way of approaching dance music. Listen to a mix by Laurine or Cecilio or a record by S. Moreira and you'll be struck by how uncomplicated and unhurried everything is (and that's skipping over their complete lack of press). Whatever minimal is, was, or will be, Chromophore Vol. 2 perfectly captures the Slow Life take.
Tracklist01. S. Moreira & Luis Malon - Vamo Arriba
02. Primary Perception - Why Did You Stay
03. Alex Neri - Moods
04. Paolo Mosca - Digital Connection
05. Indi Zone - Comtessa Slice
06. Lost Twin - RR2099
07. Laurine & Cecilio - Era Un Ravero
08. Formas - Bajo Cero