Skudge - Melodrama / Ontic

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  • Tech and house, but not tech house, thank you very much. That's been the guiding principle thus far for Skudge on their own imprint. The (now) two releases have skirted the line between the genres expertly, finding the middle ground (as Terry Fonseca pointed out) between Remote Area and Ostgut Ton. It's a simple equation: Muscular dub-indebted techno bangs, but it also has a certain emotional restraint. Add an indistinguishable female vocal sample? Voila. Dance floor magic. The problem is doing it in a way that balances both genres effectively, taking the best bits of one and ignoring the rest. "Melodrama" has the repeated vocal that we know so well, but never unleashes it fully. The tension here is the thing: It's euphoric and heads-down at the same time. "Ontic" tips its hand to the understated side more fully, but it's no less successful. Skudge unveil a billowing riff that sees the track through its entire length, building up percussion and placid strings. It's a DJ tool, but one with enough changes to keep you interested. Reminiscent of Ben Klock's more restrained work, it's yet another impressive outing for this young label.
  • Tracklist
      A Melodrama B Ontic
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