Wow. A year ago, microCastle released Andre Sobotaโs โSurrounded By Timeโ EP, which proved one of the labels most successful releases so far. The King Unique remix of โTimeโ even managed to elbow its way into the Beatport progressive chart, despite not sounding like Rihanna accompanied by a hyperactive child with a drumkit and a chainsaw. For the labelโs 30th release, Mitch Alexander has wisely turned things back over to Andre Sobota, with remixes from Henry Saiz, Electric Rescue, and 16 Bit Lolitas. Iโll say it again: wow.
From the opening growls of the lead track โPulsatillaโ immediately working through their distinctive chord changes, you know this EP is going to be amazing. โPulsatillaโ is everything melodic techno should be: distinctive, bold, exciting, and futuristic. The chugging bassline and crisp percussion provide just the right levels of forward momentum, while layers of glassy synths ensure that thisโll tickle your pleasure points, no matter how well youโve hidden them. Absolutely glorious stuff from Andre Sobota, without a doubt.
Iโve been a bit unsure what to make of Henry Saiz recently. I was immediately taken with his work after being exposed to it on the final volume of Digweedโs Transitions albums, and I continued to be a big supporter through his monumental remix of Guy and his weird but wonderful Balance album. But if Iโm being honest, his output in the past year or so, especially the material from his recent album, hasnโt worked for me at all, and so I wasnโt at all sure what Iโd make of his take on โPulsatillaโ. I neednโt have worried; this is pure sunshine (and not in the visually-striking-but-ultimately-deeply-disappointing-Danny-Boyle-film sense). The main melody line from the original is transmuted into a catchy guitar-like riff that runs through most of the track, while gigantic chord changes, clipped, twisted vocal samples, and layers of strings sounds mesh together to deliver one of the yearโs bright spots. Henry obviously set to make the most joyful, summery record he could, and heโs outdone himself with this effort.
โFull Circleโ is my least favorite of the three Andre Sobota originals, though thatโs only because of the company itโs keeping – itโs still fantastic. Even before the second minute is up, Sobota has built a huge sound, with skippy percussion and a buzzing bassline washed in a sea of shimmering synths, and a really strong lead melody making its presence felt periodically. This is another really well constructed track from Andre Sobota, with a lovely breakdown halfway through setting up the second half perfectly.
Electric Rescue is really hot property right now, particularly with the recent release of his album โSonic Architectureโ on Bedrock, but I have to say his material has tended to leave me pretty cold. His remix of Andreโs โFull Circleโ is a case in point; given the quality of the source material, youโd expect more than some techy stabs punctuating a somewhat faceless techno workout, but thatโs all weโre offered here. Thereโs nothing all that distinctive going on here, which feels like a missed opportunity; Iโd have preferred to see the track taken on by a producer who can match Sobota in terms of ambition and imagination.
Finally, we have the melodic, moving gem โLightsโ. A simple, gentle bassline and surprisingly feisty drums underwrite layers of hazy, melancholy melodies, which intensify periodically to give the track some emotional highpoints, before gradually winding down during the outro. Itโs just beautiful.
16 Bit Lolitas handle remix duties on โLightsโ, making a welcome return to the label after their terrific โPersonal Spaceโ EP a few years back. They push the track along more of a deep house trajectory, dropping the tempo and wrapping everything in warm organ sounds. The focal point of the remix is the breakdown, which builds into a soaring climax, before the track gets right back down to business. I prefer Sobotaโs original to the remix, but this is still awesome work from 16 Bit Lolitas.
microCastle and Andre Sobota are surely destined for chart success once again, but more importantly theyโve offered up a package that will lodge itself firmly in the hearts and heads of music-lovers for some time to come. If youโre remotely wired up like me in terms of musical taste, youโll have to own this EP. If youโre not, this is yet another reminder of just what youโre missing out on. 9/10
