Review:
After truly impressing with his swerve in sonic direction across some of our favourite labels this year in Hessle, Rush Hour and 50 Weapons, the excellent Cosmin TRG deemed to grace the latter imprint with this much awaited debut album. And for anyone who dipped into the Romanian's recent output, Simulat will delight on many levels. The opening dusty strains of "Amor Y Otros" sets the standard, cleverly layering sounds and thumping rhythms in a fashion that is expansive yet cohesive, even straying down some thrilling pitch shifted dynamics. Previous 50 Weapons single "Fizic" features and its hazy melodic treatment of chords and synths is an obvious highlight, but there's plenty more on offer. "Ritmat" seemingly succeeds in marrying the rough drum skeleton of dubstep with ascendant house rhythms whilst "Want You To Be" immerses your senses in a deep fog of crackling ethereality, embellished with haunting vocals and militant kicks. Brief moments of calm are interspersed with more familiar Cosmin TRG tackle on a twelve track album that might not contain the immediate gratification of A Universal Crush, instead its real charms reveal after repeat listens.