- In a world of sampled and re-sampled electronic music production, even the most casual listener can be forgiven for adopting the cynical, yet altogether understandable "heard it all before" mantra. But while the actual sounds used in the debut release from Phantasmeano are nothing new, the end result is something you'll rarely—if ever—have heard before. In fact, there's definitely an argument to be made that you should stop reading this review right now, mosey over to your favourite record store and check it out to avoid tarnishing your first listen with prior information.
Comprised of Italian-born, Berlin-based Jacopo Carreras and another (by choice unnamed) producer, the aim of the group "is to do projects that are totally dance-orientated," a move that contrasts with the rather experimental nature of Carreras' solo work. "Vowels" starts off as a fairly standard, albeit niftily handled techno workout; all arpeggiated whines, thumping kicks and white noise. From the two minute mark, though, the repeated vowel "vocal" has joined the party and made its warbled mark on proceedings.
And then the chorus kicks in.
It can't really be described as anything else, so markedly different is it from the rest of the track. Sounding like a discarded bassline from the studio of Thomas Bangalter, it transforms the track into a techno-funky-house hybrid and leaves me with a massive smile plastered all over my big stupid face.
Remixes come from Dapayk and Exercise One. The former focuses on the chorus bassline, rather spoiling the element of surprise that made the original so appealing. It's fine and will be favoured by jocks who like a little less techno meat with their house veg, but it doesn't do anything particularly enthralling. There's a lot more depth to Exercise One's effort, with heavily reverbed percussion and stretched vocal stabs creating a highly atmospheric yet still dance floor friendly workout, but the original is where it's at.
Tracklist01. Vowels
02. Vowels (Dapayk Remix)
03. Vowels (Exercise One Remix)