London’s OPIA Records has been furnishing the DJs of the world with fine beats since 2018 & the London-based label’s latest 12″ continues that trend, with the Lost & Found EP courtesy of Solar Plexus.
Perhaps the title of the opening track gives an indication of the direction of this EP, namely Beautiful Y’Know? , which thumps from the speakers immediately. A heavy bassline is matched with equally heavy kicks and rattling percussion, the lightness to balance this being added by a shimmering synth riff which nestles in the background. The break welcomes a new synth, some pianos and added percs, coming on like a lost Leftfield track (which is meant as a real compliment!), this has hints of Guerilla Records and that early/mid-90s vibe running through its veins in a really powerful way. A great opening track to set the scene.
The A2 cut is Hush, which has a much more floaty feel, with broken beats sitting underneath a low rolling bassline and fizzing synth lines. The BPM is notched up too from the opening track, so the energy is right there, punching your chest with the low-end rumbles. The sounds weave in and out as the track moves along, so while this sticks to a steady pattern throughout, the ebb and flow of the synths means it retains a real club-friendly feeling.
For the B1 track Shanti, the vibe is taken down into a much bassier territory, with the high-end sounds kept down in the mix, the emphasis here very neatly on the bass elements. Even the stabby synth and subtle acid sounds are kept back rather than being forced over the top, which allows some excellent string-like pad sounds to have their place later on in the track, gliding effortlessly over the other sounds. Brilliantly deep grooves right here!
To close the EP Solar Plexus take a real diversion from the previous tracks, dipping their toes into some wonderfully bass-heavy dub sounds. Ankara Dub pitches the BMP down to a backroom/after-hours level, the filtered drums and percs seeming to sway in time with the low-end bass and melancholy synths. Dubby stabs and horns come into play just before the halfway mark, adding warmth to the overall groove. The track continues apace with its reverb-laden sounds, giving the more adventurous DJ a really superb tool to use in their set. The sounds on this track are first-class, so this may be the EP closer, but it’s possibly the best track on the EP, if adventure is your style as a DJ.
Solar Plexus’ Lost & Found EP is out on OPIA Records.
Words by Al Bradley
Torture the Artist 