From Bristol to Singapore via Leipzig: Defrostatica present ‘Nightingale’, a lifesaving EP from two total dons of the craft – Kiat & Digital.
Metalheadz alumni, friends since early 2000s, both crazy respected for their commitment, contributions and refusal to compromise; these kindred spirits have collaborated on all kinds of projects, including Kiat doing the artwork for Digital’s Headz release the ‘In The Lurch’ EP. Here we find them nursing their deepest creative state to date.
Nightingale swoops into the roost with revitalising effect. The perfect intro tune to that first set you play to a full floor when the covid gates finally lift, there’s a great sense of atmosphere, poignancy and tension from the halftime beats to the meditative chant.
Slugstep completes the collection of originals. While it’s every bit as slow and unhurried as its name suggests, there’s much more harmonic shine than there is slime. Untypical of either act and completely refreshing, it’s yet another reminder from Kiat, Digital and us here at Defrostatica that conventions are meant to be defied.
A mainstay on the label, Dresden-born / Berlin-based B-boy Worf is up there with Kiat as the most consistent and prolific artist in the collective since his ‘City Of Meth’ EPs in back in 2018. Following various appearances and cameos on the imprint since, his emotional, hip-hop influenced designs are back in the form of his most accomplished release so far.
We’ve seen enough walls this year. Walls to distance us. Walls to divide us. Gigantic walls between where we once were… And where we’re at. Now we have walls to dance to. Not just any old walls, but ‘The Walls’ built by Sun People and remixed by Anna Morgan.
A long-time kindred spirit of Defrostatica - Sun People is the alter ego of Austrian artist Simon/Off, a man renown for his footwork-inspired beat craft and ability to weave his black music influences into his pounding patterns on labels such as RUA Sound, Modern Ruin and Alphacut. Last spotted remixing Champion Sound on Defrostatica, this EP was only a matter of time.
‘The Walls’ is the blueprint. Tension is set by the relentless beats while release is felt in the breezy Detroitian chords midway. Inspired as much by early Chicago house music as it is 80s European proto hardcore and the current turbo sound championed by the likes of Fracture, Itoa and BSN Posse, it’s fully backed by a killer remix from Anna Morgan. Another kindred soul to Defrostatica, the Worst Behaviour boss tunes into our frequency with a bouncing high-NRG remix.
The energy is maintained throughout the rest of the EP as Sun People’s hardcore echoes ripple across two other originals; the incendiary future rave weapon ‘Something Nothing’ and its additional VIP version come complete an iconic vocal shot fresh from the aftermath and euphoric jazzy rushes. ‘Like You Do’ completes the turbo disco set; a feel-good four-to-the-floor stampede laced with intoxicating levels of positivity, it’s the soundtrack to this brighter times ahead.
Like everything in 2020, this EP has taken a long time to see the light of day. A series of setbacks and situations out of our control. But good things come to those who wait. Be it music, light or freedom. The walls will come down again soon.
