Desolat Germany At Juno Download

Review: Loco Dice's label hits the target again with another drum-heavy dance floor release. "Press For Two", which features Ricky Erre Love on vocals, strikes a balance between supernatural synths and brassy flourishes - the latter sounding reminiscent of Villalobos - and a dense, drummy workout. On "Exesos (Version 1)", tumbling, tribal beats prevail, while the second take is looser and more colourful, with a sexy vocal sample and whooshing dubby effects to the fore. Yet despite these strong tracks, the most powerful statement of Desolat's ability to put out unique drummy grooves occurs on the title track, where a droning bass is the main feature.

Review: Chile's Aldo Cadiz has a number of releases under his belt, but this appearance on Loco Dice's Desolat will win him further recognition. Certainly, Cadiz's sound will appeal to those DJs who operate at the edges of the house-techno border. The title track is a playful, drum-heavy groove with enough features - vocal snippets and one-note stabs - to set it apart from the deluge of tribal banality. He repeats this approach on "Side Off", but it's "Recall Me" that will win him most acclaim. Over a bubbling, rolling groove, he drops a demented brass sequence that makes him sound like Ricardo Villalobos' older, crazier brother. And that's a good thing!

Review: The giddy helium-style vocals on the latest Desolat release are a far cry from the pitched down vocal samples that used to pervade mnml. However, when it comes to the groove, not too much has changed. The beats are dubbier and the rhythm has a more off-beat feeling, but the reverberating effects and sweeping filters show that the old tricks are often the best ones. On "You Know What I Want", the vocals are playful and daft, while the microscopic beats and bleeps, coupled with a dubby shuffling rhythm, sound more contemporary, like Mathew Dear's False project jamming with Dan Bell and Horizontal Ground. It's weird, unexpected and strangely wonderful.

Review: Wherein the German producer takes us through the many facets of his sound for Loco Dice's label. "Big Top" is a dense, drummy affair, but just when the listener thinks that they're facing into a never-ending tool track, eerie synths and tape hiss appear to divert one's attention. The same logic applies to "Damdamm"; starting life as a tracky groove, it progresses to reveal a searing bassline and offbeat, clanging bells. "Under Control" comes closest to the tool formula, with its dense rhythm housing a repetitive vocal, but it's only a minor digression and soon enough, Grub is back defying expectations with the 'it began in Africa' sample and droning bass of "Karibu".

Review: Basti Grub has built himself a reputation for high quality, energetic and Latin infused releases. "Me Sabe A Porro", his first drop on Desolat is no different, offering four tracks of club ridden, funky movers. The title track - which also features Aldo Cadiz - sees funky percussion merged into a brass band-led, jazzy workout. "Willbefine" is highly hypnotic before the driving, dubby feel of "Ohr Batch Im Kongo". Cadiz features again on rolling, funk inspired "Eleccion" before "Everything is Perfect" finishes the release in a merry, fun filled techno spirit.

Review: Benny Rodrigues is a diverse talent and on this debut release for Loco Dice's label, he shows why he is so highly regarded. "Funky Drummer" starts the release off with heavy, rooling drums and a filtered vocal, a near perfect DJ tool. "Hit the Bass Jack" is of a similar disposition but faster and containing an insistent chord stab that acts as the central hook. On "Momentum", Rodrigues shows a more sensual side to his production with a walking funk bassline and female vocal samples prevailing. It's but a short interlude and soon afterwards he's dropping acid-filled bombs - "Too Much Information" - and the effective cut-ups of "Curry's".