Mixture of breakbeat with elements of jungle, electro, ambient and old school
Tartelet Records rounds out 2018 with ‘Minor Forms’ by Urulu, a bumping EP that winds up the label’s roster of ambitious releases to celebrate its tenth year in business. The California producer and DJ has made his mark this year with a string of standout releases on Kalahari Oyster Cult, Voyage Recordings and his own Amadeus imprint, showcasing his affection for euphoric nostalgia and tight grooves. Urulu stretches out with signature key changes and an elegant hustling tempo across four tracks, reflecting the diversity of touches and influences he has become known for. On ‘Minor Forms, he teases the straight and the breakbeat with elements of jungle, electro, ambient and old school, delivering a satisfyingly moody resonance amidst the dancefloor functionality. On title track ‘Minor Forms’, the sounds of the past and the future exist in the present. Reeling melody lines with hints of acid, dreamy pads and drops ensure that it all makes sense on the dancefloor.
‘Destino Tikal’ is all about the sensuous and mysterious ‘Cuerpo Pulsante’ mix, which suggests shimmering sex toy flickers and takes a percussive route across its insistent 4/4 bop, adding chops, keys and Vox for a big atmospheric strut of a groove. ‘DRM’ wraps deep and dubby minimal bleeps, rolling breaks and a straight kick into a louche swing and funk gloop, while EP-closer ‘Quasimidi’ starts with a breakbeat before the thump adds the backbone and the hi-hats speed up. Pads whirl and dubby chords underpin a high speed exit from 2018 into the future. Urulu follows Max Graef, Glenn Astro, Space Ghost and others in Tartelet’s 10th year, celebrating the label’s commitment to work across genres