- Dexter aka Mat Royall recently showed up on the radar twice in the space of a couple of days, first on a young American label called Headtunes Recordings, and then on London's mighty Wiggle (of Fabric fame). In the former case, we encounter a monster track called 'Schwing,' which you might recall from Eddie Richards' Fabric mix from a few years back. In the latter case, we find two tracks of even more monstrous proportions (if, indeed, such a scenario is possible). But it’s the latter we are concerned with here, and so we come to the point: keeping in line with the Wiggle ethic, both sides of Dexter's latest release (not unlike his releases on labels like Absurd Recordings and KGBeats) are pure party music, plain and simple.
'Wino Man' is textbook tech house with an emphasis on the house. It kicks in with a beat that punches and hi-hats that gradually accumulate as the groove sets in. The near-deadly bassline, when it finally drops down, knocks the wind out of you and pins you to the floor (dance floor, living-room floor, kitchen floor - it doesn't matter). And then the energy keeps building. Effects weave about, sounds bounce in and out, and apparently there is a woman crooning wordlessly somewhere within earshot (and with just the right amount of reverb). Eventually the strings arrive, on top of it all, shaping up some minor chords to carry us into the breakdown. And just as we begin to catch our breath, it's back to the beat and the bassline. And then it's over, and it was bumping.
'Rhodes to Nowhere' is tech house with an emphasis on the tech. More mechanical than its counterpart in sound and arrangement, it still relies on an expertly-fashioned groove to lock you in and keep you moving. Heavy beat and booming bassline is again the name of the game, but this time a nice bit of atmosphere forms underneath and in between to help carry us along. There’s also a hypnotic pseudo-melody - provided, presumably, by a Rhodes piano - that pushes things in an almost trance-like direction. In the end, the particular funk of the tune manages to keep it very much within house realms, but be aware – the energy level arrived at by way of this track may be difficult to sustain. Close attention to proper usage is recommended – for suitable crowds and at appropriate hours only.
What it all adds up to is an A+ package and a great addition to anyone's tech-house arsenal. Big sounds and high energy on both sides of the disc - you won't regret spending your money on this one, and you'll probably come to the end of each track with a smile on your face.