When I first heard NYC producer Policy, on his early releases for Rush Hour, I put him in the same fidgety 2-step category as FaltyDL. His debut for Chicago label Argot proves he's got a few more tricks than that up his sleeve. "Hit Gone Bad" is every bit as restless, but in a different way: it recalls about three different eras of disco at once, all cobbled together on the back of a steady thump. Shrewd horn stabs, blustery Italo strings and nu-disco synths all compete for attention, and the result is at once punchy and luxurious.
Continuing the retro theme, "Walk Up" pairs a flamboyant strut with blasts of vintage synth. It's a simple enough foundation, but it's all about the offbeat hi-hats that stutter as if he's squished them together uncomfortably near the end of each bar; you'll only notice if you listen carefully, but the extra spring in the track's step makes it that much more satisfying. Hit Gone Bad ends on a more downbeat note, with the drowsy "Thick Nostalgia," where a bassline that sounds like it wandered in from another EP gets massaged by humid synth work. Everything sounds slightly out of time, but it's an endearing touch and one that makes Policy's music stick out a little bit more.
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Tracklist: Policy - Hit Gone Bad
 A Hit Gone Bad
B1 Walk Up
B2 Thick Nostalgia
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