- There's nothing wrong with calling your record Detroit Paradise, but including a sample that barks the city's name on two of the tracks seems a bit much. Especially if you're not from there. We can, at least, take solace that Decoside—an Italian named Giacomo Moscatello—isn't telling us to put our hands up. He's classier than that. His eponymous track strings serene bloops from stammering kicks, percussion and bass. Lest things get too plain, heavily reverbed claps and other hits fire off every so often, sliding grainily out of earshot. Contrary to their titles, neither version of "Drone" involves much droning; just hyper 303 basslines which twang rather than gurgle, alongside 4/4 claps. The "Quiete Version" adds silken keyboard chords at various points; a strange contrast given that the frantic acid foundation hasn't changed.
"Make in a Difference" begins with an impassioned prayer. Thankfully, the appropriation stops there, giving way to a crisp, well-programmed mix of classic toms and cymbals. Faded chords are smeared over the top in a thin layer, but ultimately feel more anaemic than ethereal. "Right First" takes a similar tack, only this time attempts a funkier base. "Monotonia" is one of the two tracks with the "Detroit!" sample. The rest of it consists of fluttering chords and claps, resulting in a gentle, current-like cadence rather than a real dance floor one. Contrary to perceptions, Detroit isn't sacred. This kind of authenticity-via-association, however, is weak, whatever the subject. Though Moscatello's actual beats are pretty sharp, everything else about Detroit Paradise feels like a caricature.
Tracklist 01. Detroit Paradise
02. Drone (Acid Version)
03. Drone (Quiete Version)
04. Make in a Difference
05. Monotonia
06. Right First