Dubshape - Fragments EP

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  • Dubshape are the duo of Ale Reis and João Lee. They live in Sao Paolo where they have a residency at the acclaimed D-Edge club. The Fragments EP on Audiofly's Supernurture imprint is only their second release, but it speaks volumes about their confidence as producers. The trio of Dubshape originals here all begin with a sparse, dark ambience, but eventually metamorphose to yield different tech house flavors all geared for the dance floor. The centerpiece, "Different Elevations," opens like a sliver of cold, apprehensive minimal, ala Minilogue, before melting completely into its underpinning drone. From this silent place it relaunches itself with a bristling synth that adds a sense of propulsion and warmth. "Trick Sunshine," on the other hand, uses greater resonance on the kick drums to give it a bigger sound and a housier feel. The suspenseful opening wash slowly gives way to fidgety synth stabs and a M_nus-esque melody. "Pieces" lies somewhere between the two. It takes the glacial smoothness of "Different Elevations" and the taut melodic tones of "Trick Sunshine" and combines them with fractured samples and a touch of dub to complete the hat trick. Ironically, it's London duo Glimpse on their remix of "Different Elevations" who forsake any dark atmospheres and add the greatest evocation of Brazil by breaking the melody into hypnotic polyrhythms complete with party samples reminiscent of Carnival. In contrast to this airy route, Marc Peakay opts for a tight-knit techno approach. Dark and driving, subtlety succumbs to pure intensity and bigger sounds. Sebastian Roya's version of "Pieces" does the same: Though it's more sparse than forceful, it's still plenty urgent.
  • Tracklist
      01. Different Elevations (Glimpse Remix) 02. Different Elevations 03. Trick Sunshine 04. Pieces (Sebastian Roya Remix) 05. Different Elevations (Marc Peakay Remix) 06. Pieces
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