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Asten – Stay Cold (Stripped Recordings)

Russian producer Asten makes his debut on Stripped Recordings, following up a lovely remix for its sister label last year, while London-based Audioglider returns to the Stripped family for the lone remix.

I’ve been a fan of Asten’s unique and dreamy take on house and progressive for a long time now, and ‘Stay Cold’ is another fine example of what he’s capable of. Built around haunting, cleverly cut-up and looped pianos, the track also features a slinky bass, organ-stabs, and beautifully understated melodies that creep in just before the breakdown and for the track’s finale.

Audioglider’s ‘Syncodacto’ remix offers a downtempo take on ‘Stay Cold’, which lets Asten’s melodies filter in gently over low-key percussion and an elastic bass part, while the second half throws in some unexpected retro flourishes, with a busy bassline and bold hooks. There are some lovely melodic touches throughout, and it’s perfect for those after hours moments.

This isn’t a release that’s likely to rock the clubs, but as you’d expect from Asten and Audioglider, it offers many moments of beauty for fans of subtle and intelligent electronic music – recommended. 7.5/10

Written by Mark Betteridge

Mark Betteridge is the Founder of Change Underground (est. 2013) and True Underground. An investigative journalist cited by leading publications such as Mixmag and Groove, he is a Digital Architect in the dance music industry news space. Read Full Bio →

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