MINDHELMET reaches number 27 with a six-track outing from Griggy, continuing the London label’s seemingly endless supply of records built with the booth firmly in mind. Sitting in the A2 position, “Under Pressure” finds its character somewhere between bleepy Tech House and the swagger of late-’90s Hip-Hop—a combination that feels particularly at home within the MINDHELMET universe.
At its core, the track is a proper groover. Tight drums and a rolling low end keep things moving while scattered bleeps give the arrangement its techier edge, leaving plenty of space between the individual elements. The real personality, however, comes from its use of Method Man & Redman’s “Da Rockwilder”. Rather than allowing the Hip-Hop reference to take over, Griggy folds it into the rhythm, turning that familiar vocal attitude into another part of the track’s machinery.
It is that meeting of worlds that makes “Under Pressure” so much fun. The rawness and swagger of the sample sit against a stripped-back club framework without either side feeling forced, connecting Hip-Hop’s rhythmic attitude with the kind of lean, functional Tech House that works best when there is little unnecessary decoration. Bleepy, punchy and carrying just the right amount of mischief, “Under Pressure” is one for selectors who like their groove with a little extra attitude.
Words by Holger Breuer
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