Victor Calderone – Burden – (Drumcode)

Iadam Beyer’s Drumcode gathers a fine head of steam, letting this release mark the time for a true OG to take centre stage – welcome to the fray once more, Mr Victor Calderone. Calderone has an enviable history – one of the grand masters of the dark beat of house and techno music, very ex boyfriend of Madonna (those who know will know ‘if Madonna calls, I’m noooooot home’) and resident of the legendary Roxy in New York and Liquid in Miami. Behind the decks this man can tear it up like no other … But I’m telling you the old plot.

‘Skin’ is a double pleasure experience, it’s a hard as titanium, nails-down-a-blackboard, splashing rides and angle grinders at dawn, dark techno growler that skulks and snarls in the shadows like a chained and rabid raver. Then ‘Burden’ is my new best friend since it’s a wobbly, wiggly, loop fest with guillotine sharp metallic stabs, synth effects that shear off your earlobes like someone taking an industrial sized can opener to a Renault Clio would do and when the vocal starts to circulate and loop your marbles are rolling all over the floor and you can’t even catch them. It’s bliss. Plus it reminds me that speaker stacks were made to be stood – and danced on. Fucking amazing. Love it.

4 out of 5

Reviewed by Paulette