The story of Bella Boo is not one of overnight success, though of course it might appear as such, if you haven’t been somewhat embedded in the wonderful and weird world of Swedish club culture over the last 12 years or so, in which case you will know her as one of the most eclectic, informed and hardworking DJs on the scene. It wasn’t until last year’s Studio Barnhus debut, the Fire EP, that the world finally started talking about Bella’s extraordinary production skills – the record’s fuzzy r&b harmonics and snappy analog drums prompted Pitchfork to declare it “the flat-out dreamiest thing to come from the label yet”. This was followed quickly by boyboy, a universally beloved track on last year’s Studio Barnhus Volym 1 compilation, in which she “[drizzled] bluesy sweet nothings over elliptical scrapes and squelches, suggesting Matthew Herbert remixing St Germain” (Pitchfork again). Supervillain is Bella’s first solo release of 2019, a perfect three-track thing that sees the currently London-based artist continue to expertly straddle the fence between enigmatic dreamlands and groove-locked dance floors. Artwork by Stockholm visual artist and long-time Bella colla-Boo-rator Alexandra Karpilovski.
Have you ever wondered what it sounds like to pack late night influences and dancefloor memories from Northern Hemisphere touring into your luggage, take it home to a sunburnt island and let it sweat out a bit more in the studio? Us neither. To be honest, I don’t think anyone has really pondered such a Bizarro concept.
Nevertheless, Roza Terenzi’s EP ‘The Worldwide’ on the inaugural Bizarro Records release is just that. A continental cross section of sounds and moods that always manages to keep a fist firmly pumping in seemingly eternal rave aesthetic.
'50 Millionaire’ begins as a rare trip to the tropics with some fluttering synths and balearic pads, however the weather takes a quick turn back to familiar Roza surroundings with an unforgiving kick and grinding baseline stabs. Rhythmically this is one of her most audacious efforts yet. A track that bangs just as easy on a badass system as it would on a banana lounge.
For the title track ‘Worldwide’, Terenzi invites listeners out on a charter with an initial melody that could hook the strongest that the sea had to offer. The instantly familiar hook is met with a classic breaks structure and some understated warm chords that carry the cut safely back to shore.
Remixes for the EP come from fellow Ozzie don Rings Around Saturn and 90’s revivalist Luca Lozano. Whilst not surprising, yet always impressive Rings Around Saturn once again flips an original on its head. The Melburnian takes ’50 Millionaire’ on a trip across the channel and provides those unpredictable UK patterns and flare. If making a ‘balaeric stepper’ was possible, this is what it would sound like. For ‘Worldwide’, The Klasse Wrecks king, builds a standard ravey stab into a melody that makes the inner hardcore in us all warm and fuzzy. Whilst it may not be anything novel, it sticks to its contagious Luca Lozano DNA of acidic, anthemic and euphoric.
Casting the net ever wider, Kalahari Oyster Cult have drawn in new music and a new artist for their latest release. Flora FM, a.k.a. Community Corporation a.k.a. T. Hawkins, has graced imprints such as Argot and Vanity and now debuts with Chaos Light. Trying to define the style of this sound weaver is a near impossible task, the gamut of electronics has been plundered to create this unique EP. From the aquatic hypnotics of “Hallucinogenic Worm” and the hyperactive energy of “Chrome Glass”, Flora FM borrows from acid house, rave anthems and techno with a magpie like curiosity as he melts textures and tones like a master. Broken beats and rich xylophonic melodies coalesce in the bubbling “Storm Cleaned” before the warm bath that is the Chicago hued “Insist on You.” Chaos Light keeps you guessing until the very end, the erratic and frenzied reductions of beat and bass combining to form “Inc Stop.” A youngster with the ear and ability of a seasoned veteran.
Deep, raw and real? Then NY*AK is the man! Andrew Scott has been releasing superb bottom heavy deep house groovers for many years on various top labels (like Local Talk, Paper or Ninja Tunes Technicolor). Now it’s time for Quintessentials! The A-side features „after the sun“, a deep, minimalistic and sexy groover, and „mind“, a blissfull and rich low BPM tune for an early morning come down. The B-side starts with „vice“, a proper Detroit track – bassline, strings, rims and snares - and finishes off with the funky and mellow „onions“. Deep, raw and real? NY*AK anytime!
