- Taking a break from works under his own name, Billy Dalessandro returns to the playful tongue-and-cheek concept of the Huge Hephner alias on his first full-length for Chicago-based Siteholder Records. Musically, Nymphotech continues in the same vein as his Siteholder UnCut EP, The Booty Drop, in that it doesn't stray far from what Dalessandro does best: clean, tight productions for the dance floor. Its nine tracks meld the general structures and aesthetics of Chicago house with the rhythmic elements and sounds of modern techno.
Dalessandro begins the album teasing us halfway through the first track with a single saxophone sample—a sexy moment you'd expect in a track titled "Foreplay" that features grooving conga-laden tech-house. "My Money Your Body," meanwhile, is a swinging house number with funky synths that modulate throughout the entire track against intricate rhythmic patterns.
"Coffeeshop Chronicles" showcases a heavy Chicago house influence via a punchy acid bass line that pumps throughout the track. "Black Potion"'s powerful kick leads into a chugging groove that is juxtaposed against a simple synth lead. Hephner makes use of some well-timed spacey warm pads that add an element of interest to an otherwise straightforward techno track. But "JacknCoke" splits the difference, making for an interesting hybrid of house and techno with a disco bass line and piano riffs.
"Lotus Bomb," on the other hand, is a much deeper track with pitched down vocals and subdued Detroit-styled stabs laced over a jazzy bass line. In contrast, Dalessandro then hits hard with "$ean Da Don" and introduces us to a naughty new character from his fertile imagination. This playful track, with its freaky vocal samples, is a booty-shaker reminiscent of the Detroit Grand Pubahs. Thanks to Dalessandro's less-is-more production value, however, he delivers something that's humorous without being over the top or ridiculous.
"Quickie Bounce" is a little plodding when compared with the rest of the album, and is probably one of the less danceable tracks due to its lazy snares and oddly off-beat wood block hits. The title track, "Nymphotech," is lean but definitely danceable and is the most techno-oriented music on the album.
Truthfully, Nymphotech is more of an extended EP than a fully realized artist album. The fact that this album was also released as two pieces of vinyl, with digital bonus tracks, simply proves the point. But each tune is just unique enough to keep things interesting, especially given Dalessandro's obvious talent for blending analog and digital techniques. An impressive effort.
Tracklist01. Foreplay
02. My Money Your Body
03. Coffeeshop Chronicles
04. Black Potion
05. JacknCoke
06. Lotus Bomb
07. $ean Da Don
08. Quickie Bounce
09. Nymphotech