For the fourth release on Liquid Earth’s Squid Recordings, the label welcomes Iceberg, MSM, PACH and Nature Boy to their latest 12″. Despite some in-depth searching of the artists – aside PACH and Nature Boy – they remain hidden in the underground, so it is difficult to point you lovely readers in the direction of much online information about the artists, however, the music is belting and that may be all you need to know!
Opening up the EP is the fuzzy electronic vibe of Iceberg’s “Bend Over”. With a no-nonsense buzzing bassline, the track develops into a spoken word groover, light synths also adding to the overall flow. The percussion nestles in the background at just the right level, allowing the track to flow from the speakers with a real punchy vibe. A great start to the EP for sure.
For the A2 cut it’s MSM bringing the beats with “Socks Off”; this one is reminiscent of early 00’s Tech House a’la Wiggle, Surreal and those vibey London labels from that period. The groove is built around neat and tidy drums, with added percussive elements throughout and fizzing FX sounds. Vocals are chopped up through the track, giving a little ‘uggh’ here and there, with a lovely low chugging bassline and little stabby riffs all coming together for a wicked flow.
Flipping over and we welcome PACH, one of the artists where some information could be found! The Manchester-based producer and DJ has been making waves of late, so it’s no surprise that his track has the requisite swing and bounce which is so on-point right now. His “A Little Too Cheeky” is a superb hip-swinger of the finest style, the up-and-down bassline complimented with really well-placed drum programming and warm stabs placed through the track. The killer here though is definitely the percussion; it’s so well crafted, you can’t fail to have the urge to get well and truly down. Class work!
Closing the 12″ is Nature Boy, hailing from London and also bringing the heat here. Here Nature Boy is leaning towards something of an early 90’s vibe, this has the same ‘Come On’ vocal sample from D-Shake’s “Techno Trance”, but with a much more rattling percussive style, chunky stabby bassline and whizzing synths and FX throughout. The energy pulsing through this track is immense, so this will be an absolute winner on the dancefloors.
A solid EP from all involved here, proving perhaps that you don’t always need to know the life story of the artist – what comes out of the speakers is paramount, so hats off to Squid Recordings and Liquid Earth for this bomb of a 12″!
Torture the Artist 