The 15th release on Demi Riquísimo’s ever-impressive Semi Delicious label is now upon us, bringing together a number of artists on one expertly curated slab of wax via the Kraken EP.
The EP opens with Demi & Michelle Manetti, whose All I Need track is pure dancefloor energy. There’s no messing around here, it’s straight in with full-on chunky beats, a driving bassline and old-school influenced stabs. Michelle’s vocals are used sparingly but to great effect, with the whole track benefitting from a ‘less is more’ approach.
Next up is the EP title track, this time courtesy of Corbi. If thumping Acid is your bag, then this is 100% for you – again, there is no gentle minimalism going on, this kicks you right into action, the undulating acid sounds working between low resonance and freaky squelch vibes. For added retro feeling, the track drops into hip-hop sampling breakbeats around the three minute mark, for just a hint of the past for a few seconds, before moving swiftly back into its acid rolling flow.
Closing the A-side we have Nebari & Lulah Francs Don’t Make Me Wait, which is a slightly lower BPM than the previous two tracks, but with no less energy. The vocals sit wonderfully with the depth of the bass and the gorgeous pads, the raw drums making this an absolute winner. The bassline is an absolute killer too, nestled up against the percussion for perfect hip-shaking dancefloor activity. This is a beauty!
The B-side opener from NairLess thumps in with a solid bass, kicks and percs, floaty synths living up to the track’s title of Swell. Sounding not unlike the output of early-mid 90’s labels such as Platipus, Eye-Q and Bonzai, the track thunders along at a quick pace, staccato riffs coming into play over the incessant bassline and drums, with a drop in the middle which will take the club roof clean off.
For the B2 it’s Last Magpie with Release It, a glorious slice of underground House which also has a reference to early 90s Rave, with its spacey synth riff. The bassline is filthy and all the more awesome as a result, sounding solid alongside the reverb-laden FX clips. This is one of those tracks which could have been made or released any time between now and 1991 and would have been perfect, regardless of the year.
Lastly and by no means least here, the EP is closed off by Jive Talk and the irrepressibly funky Wizards Slippers. Breaky garage beats are to the fore here, with another bassline which could quite easily sit in the “Bassline Hall Of Fame”, such is its depth and all-out-funky flavour. Neat vox clips sound excellent along with the synths, little vinyl scratch sounds and the aforementioned bass groove. Added bleepy sounds come into effect in the latter part of the track, giving the end section of the track extra vitality. This is going to be a staple cut at House and Garage clubs alike, as it has the perfect elements to work for both camps. A cracking closing track to what is an excellent and varied EP, which should sit in DJs record boxes for a long time to come.
V/A – Kraken EP is out now on vinyl-only via Semi Delicious.
Words by Al Bradley
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