Marc DePulse returns to Selador for his third outing, this time with his debut EP for the label, accompanied by hot remixes from Kevin Over and David Granha.
I’ve been looking forward to hearing this EP ever since I learned of its existence, not least of all because the relationship between Selador and Marc DePulse has already produced some of my favourite records of the past 6 months; Dave Seaman’s remix of Marc DePulse’s ‘My Daily Keys’ was easily one of the highlights of 2015, and ‘Slapstick’ is already a serious contender to be a highlight of this year. This EP certainly doesn’t disappoint, even given my high expectations. First out of the gate, we have the title track, which wears its take-no-prisoners attitude on its sleeve from the off. Beefy kicks, razor-sharp hi-hats, and a relentlessly driving bassline set the stage for a simple but twisted three-note hook, which in turn sets up a truly addictive drop – perhaps the most exciting since Quivver’s ‘Everything Remains the Same’, itself another Selador number. The main breakdown sets the main hook against more abstract melodies, before Marc DePulse hits us with an even more aggressive and percussive second half.
The remix of ‘Famekiller’ comes from Kevin Over, who did a really creative job on his remix of Cristoph’s ‘Moments’ earlier this year. His take on Marc DePulse’s track drops the tempo a bit, and he offers a more straightforward four-to-the-floor slice of tech-house this time, powered by some cool dubby stabs, jacking percussion, disembodied voices, and a detuned take on the original’s main hook. But it’s only when the 303 is fired up in the second half that we get a sense of the real damage this remix can do – it’s simply vicious, in the best possible way.
Marc DePulse’s second original track on the EP is ‘Nothing Toulouse’, which hits hard with squelchy bass tones, acidic tinges, and some well-thought-out build-ups and peaks. The mid-section sees the track take a welcome melodic turn, with some glassy sci-fi themes carrying us into the breakdown, before a final buildup pushes things over the edge once more.
I was really pleased to see David Granha down for a remix on this EP, since as I’ve noted recently, he’s been absolutely on fire with his recent remixes. Even better, he here gets his teeth into the excellent ‘Slapstick’, which I’ve already gushed about again above. Granha’s version of the track works the distinctive elements of Marc DePulse’s original over some awe-inspiring growls and a hypnotic off-beat bassline, while throwing in his own futuristic melodies. The attention to detail is fantastic – just listen to the way that Granha plays with the vocal samples from the original, keeping them instantly recognisable while having his own fun with them. Actually, that’s a pretty apt description of the whole remix – Granha does a fantastic job of transforming ‘Slapstick’ into a powerful blast of techno without losing the swagger and sense of fun that made the original so special.
This is another stunning package from Selador, with both of Marc DePulse’s originals and both remixes really hitting the target. I’m not even going to try to pick a favourite here – do yourself a favour, and grab the lot.
