Michal Wolski wastes no time with Derivate, his first appeance on vinyl. Clipped percussions arc and swoop around a throbbing 909 kick as a grinding bass and ragged open hats begin their dark business. Crystalline lead synths raise the tension and climax with a brutal filtered clap and jarring percussion.
Remorse from Londoner Shcaa switches the gears. A journey into a clicking, hissing vortex of toms, wandering filtered bass, and impeccable vocal sampling. Somehow he wrangles an infectious groove from this dizzying mess, contending with phased splashes of water, menacing piano notes and squelching audio sprites.
Comute brings us back into the smoke and sweat with Black Pressure, a steadily rising freight train of a track. Rolling low toms and driving, merciless hats suddenly swing down as the sky splits open and the chord, the only chord you need, bursts through. This is the chord that everyone, seeing each other in a flash of light, understands. It is all we need.
WV closes the EP in fine style, for the Mexican’s sophomore vinyl appearance. Iinthecity pits heaving, clinking drums against ricocheting chords. A prickly hat and clap hold steady as the song reaches its melodic climax. Simple, strange and beautiful.