When Razor N Tape head honcho Jason Kriv and Peter Matson, front man of NYC post-punk afro band ‘Underground System’ get together in the studio you can expect the unexpected. This is evident with the first track on their ‘Bigtime EP’, which is about to surface on the always reliable Heist imprint. ‘Ewesse Ye’ is a piece of music that’s hard to describe genre esque, it’s certainly partly Balearic, it’s Proto-House, it’s Afro and it’s Disco with a spacey edge thanks live elements en masse. Vocals are provided by Cameroonian singer Samy Love, whose performance makes this track stand out.
The track is carefully remixed by multi-talented Auntie Flo, who flips the original into an afro-tech monster. Dark synths and spaced-out percussion flow throughout and the added layer of Marimba work complements the vocal and vibe perfectly.
On the flip, we’ve got the slow burner ‘New Friend’, which is my personal pick of the EP as it’s an immense funker that’s right up my street.
The EP closer is ‘Bigtime’, built around a growling bass and subtle chants, this is perhaps the most clubby and in-your-face track of the pack. It’s the horn section that takes center stage and you really feel that vibrant energy that must have been present in the live room when this was recorded.
All in all this is another winner for Heist and another proof that JKriv is one of the best guys the vital Disco scene has to offer.
DISCO
REVIEWED BY MANNIX
4 out of 5
