V.A - Black EP

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  • Deep, dark and druggy -- Am I aloud to say that? Well, I just did -- describes Juno's "Reartic" on new label Loose Records, which looks sure to be caned by top artists such as Hawtin, Luciano and Vath. A tough ass beat jumps out at you right away with quirky little riffs, drops and a smooth bell loop riding in the background. Hi hats accentuate the existing groove with a soft glowing pad as the track builds up before everything drops out and then, a vocal: "We got it". SLAM back into the beat with a new shaker pattern which flows along , shining pads and a very deep bass. More vox samples "gotta go with the..." add to a nice and smooth atmosphere with a ton of fills, efx and echoes. Perfect for DC-10 Ibiza and all after-hours raising their flags. Onward we march with Juno and the Loose Records family. A deep deep experience. (9/10) Funky tech house is the theme behind the clicks, tight hat work, muffled bass and distorted vocal hits in the message on Juno's "Mini Plug". A very comfortable loop in the beginning allows room for the addition of the higher pitched, twisted vocal hits which compliment things nicely. Bouncing back and forth with a rising light pad in the background, the kick drops out as a dreamy-yet-funky guitar-like synth pattern enters. The break comes back and the funk continues to build as low level organ hits sneak in. With a funky groove and clicky vocal hits, how can you not drop this one? Great for tech-house heads and the funky click crew, "Mini Plug" should be "Monster Plug". (8.5/10) On the B-side, bongos in the background and a creeping sick bass get our heads in the right place on Mark Antonio & Juno's "Loose Off". Shortly after, the soft rolling wood clicks and bass stabs make the mouth water -- Ouch, I'm dancing while I type this -- as a birdie sample chirps in and out with efx and a long sweep signposts the break. A melody sweet melody starts and happily keeps the dancefloor building with more clicks, snaps and pops. The existing elements trade places and spaces for a short period before dropping out, the kick bringing things back in on a long sweep. Get your dancing shoes on, the beat on this is nasty. This track seems to go very fast due to the intricate sequencing and moving bass. Perfect for continuing the build. (8/10) On a slightly deeper and more low-key attitude, there is still room for Detail's "We Are Detail" in the record bag. A drier kick, wood and hats roll on with a keen synth stab while adverse bass notes running opposite of this, create depth. The synth pattern increases in both volume and note structure only to see the kick drop out before loosely-timed fx make space and everything kicks back in. The melody soon drops out leaving the fx, woods and hats controlling the scene. Brief melody and bass patterns are brought in and out to add diversity. A nice li'l tune to drop at any after-hours but be careful of the sudden ending. Great number. (8/10)
RA