Sebastien San

DECAY

12"

Ab Initio / AB01

French DJ and producer, Sebastien San, whos been releasing house records under one name or another for about a decade, has taken the next big step forward in his lauded career and started his own label. After releasing material through a venerable whos who of labels like Planet E, Poker Flat, Rush Hour, We Play House, and Echocord, it only makes sense that Sebastien take matters into his own hands and helm an operation independently. The imprint, cheekily called Ab Initio, will predominantly function as a vehicle for the man to put out his own records.

> The debut 12” is a collection of hefty, aggressive tracks that will leave you rattled. “Decay” works off a groovy melody that sounds like it’s been submerged in the deep end of a pool. The sharp and prominent hats paired with the noodling synths morph it into a late-night face-melter and an assertive kick-off to the powerful EP. “For You” is of a mellower mood; it’s the necessary comedown from the balls-to-the-wall opener. Sebastien focuses more on sculpting an ambient aural environ that’s flush with spacey synth chords and effects. Still, though, his penchant for wiring throbbing beats into his music stays intact.
> With the flip, it’s back to business. “Reverse” rolls along atop an elastic acid riff that tweaks out as the track plods along. Then “Cosmic Track” comes on and absolutely lives up to its name. The jam builds around jagged drum patterns and a blanket of arpeggiated synths that take you to outer space. The hand claps and bouncy bass, though, bring the whole thing back to Sebastien’s home: the club. A proud and triumphant release that’s motivated by a sense of freedom and inhibition.