It’s not often that DJs (or anyone) buy entire EPs anymore. Sources like Beatport, iTunes, and Trackitdown have given both DJs and casual listeners the ability to pick and choose and select the cream of the musical crop, while leaving the curdled milk they know might be ‘one and done’ behind.
That being said, buy Derek Allen’s ENTIRE new “DJA” EP. Released 07-05-2011 on Mad Decent, Allen’s 5
-tracker is a glitterball, panty-dropper of a release. It’s not so much ‘filth’ as it is ‘silk’. It’s more akin to the sound of Skream’s treatment of La Roux’s ‘In For the Kill’ One could argue that it also contains some elements of Skrillex’s patented staccato vocal pitch-roll cut-ups, but without the dinosaur-vs-robot bass and squeltch. The tracks are simultaneously uplifting and forceful, in that they make you want to hit someone, but like, with a rainbow.
Track one is ‘Shoulda Listened’, and is my favorite. It’s the track you hope is the DJ’s last if you’re just about to seal the deal with that ‘special someone’ you met over Patron shots an hour ago. If this comes on, it’s already to late to go get condoms, so don’t forget to pack.
Track two is “We are Gone”. This is the one that reminds me of Skrillex’s chopped-up re-pitched vocal stabs that appear in a lot of his tracks. Don’t let that turn you off though if you don’t like Skrillex. If I hadn’t said anything you wouldn’t have noticed. They’re so camouflaged in swirling leads and sparkling melody that even the most ardent of anti-Skrillites can acknowledge their intelligence and quality without feeling hypocritical . Amazing synth and melody work on this one.
Describing track three, “Trying To Come Alive”, words like “booty-bass rhythm section”, “909”, “piano”, “buttery vocals” and “make-out music” come to mind. The combination of elements seems unlikely, but it works.
Track four, “Spirit In The Material World”, is a reboot of the opening track off The Police’s 1981 album “Ghost In The Machine”. It’s alright, probably more for the pop-step set, but it still does have it’s time and place in a DJ’s crate, and most certainly in your iPod.
The last track, “Suspiria”, is a little bit more non-descript, which explains its placement on the release, but it still contains some nice high-rev snyths and the same solid production signature of the rest of this EP. Quality stuff nonetheless.
So that’s Derek Allen’s new EP. Not sure why I’ve never heard of him before as Mad Decent lists him as one of Diplo’s oldest and most dear collaborators. Regardless, if the sonics of his future releases mirror this one, I hope I’ll be hearing a lot more. Stay out of trouble you crazy kids.
Derek Allen – Shoulda Listened
Derek Allen – Spirits in the Material World
i love this entire EP.