With “Space Cadet”, the B1 cut on Brent’s new EP “Return To Cookie Mountain” for Liverpool imprint Zuku, the Scouse producer delivers a hybrid weapon that sits right on the thrilling edge between club functionality and pop-leaning immediacy – without ever tipping too far into glossy territory. If the A-side lays out the framework, “Space Cadet” ignites the B-side with confidence, setting a decisive tone for what follows.
Built around a punchy Electro bassline that grabs instantly, the track snaps into motion with the kind of low-end propulsion that feels engineered for late-night physicality. Sitting brightly on top is a sticky, earworm synth theme, the type that burrows into memory after one play and returns uninvited hours later – proof of Brent’s instinct for crafting hooks without sacrificing underground grit.
The vocal touches land like flickers of neon: playful and spaced just enough to spark interest without overstating their role. It’s these details that give “Space Cadet” its charm – that sense of magic dust sprinkled across a sturdy rhythmic core. The groove cruises forward with aerodynamic flow, always building momentum, never losing its grip.
“Space Cadet” flirts with pop sensibility – bright tones, clean structure, big personality – but its attitude remains firmly aimed at the dancefloor, shaping a tool DJs can deploy for uplift without cheesiness. It’s fun, it’s infectious, and it’s crafted with the refined ear of a producer steeped in dance history rather than trend-chasing shortcuts.
As the opener to the B-side, the track lifts the record into a new gear and underlines why Brent sits at the center of Liverpool’s current wave: a producer unafraid to blend accessibility with underground muscle. A fantastic cut, and undoubtedly one of the EP’s most instant crowd-pullers.
Pure club gold.
Words by Holger Breuer
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