Arpi Takacs (aka Atapy) is the latest Romanian producer worth keeping an eye out for. With production credits on the likes of Get Physical, Brise and Noir Music, some seriously influential heads seem to agree, too. The latest such label to jump aboard the Atapy train is Thrill of It, the French label headed by Acumen of Time Has Changed fame. Entitled the Black Bird EP, it’s exactly in keeping with the label’s modus operandi so far in that it’s melodic but also catchy and sexy to boot. And with four tracks on show here, it’s not an EP that’s lacking in either quality or quantity stakes. But let’s start with the title track, Black Bird. Innocuous enough for the first while, it soon gets going thanks to some lingering melodies and an overall sense that all’s not well. All is definitely well, but either way, we feel it’s best you make up your mind on that one. ‘Ego’ is a more uptempo weapon for the peak time hours, and a mere two tracks in, it’s already clear that this EP is made with discerning heads in mind. The other tracks are ‘Geist’ and ‘Triangle’. ‘Geist’ (perhaps a dedication to Morgan Geist himself?) is a sprightly, vaguely disco-sounding gem. Again, the producer’s penchant for mood is represented, but it’s done so in a way that’s neither repetitive nor gimmicky. Elsewhere, ‘Triangle’ is a tidy tool of a track with rubbery synth motifs and a grinding array of industrial tech beats. A real voyage of sound, Atapy really does thrill on the Thrill of It label.
4 out of 5
Reviewed by Ian Fleming
