Gerstaffelen - The Old Villagers

  • Share
  • M>O>S Deep's purview is simple: jacking house and techno. Really, the "deep" aspect of the name's always been a bit of a misnomer, since previous EPs from R-A-G and 2 AM FM have been just as committed to ripsnorting dance floor assaults as its parent, M>O>S. The Old Villagers appears to be the debut release from Gerstaffelen, a producer with absolutely no online presence. Considering how accomplished it is, if Gerstaffelen turned out to be someone more established it wouldn't be a huge surprise. Surgeon picked opener "The Old Villagers" to kick off a recent Rinse show, and as an exercise in attention grabbing it's hard to argue with that decision. Within the opening minute the electro bass riff is screaming, and the stereo field is filled with pounding toms. When a synth line bleeds in halfway, at first supplementing the bass then fighting with it, it's the kind of collision that makes a room fist-pump in unison. "Game On Major" has a similar battle between bass and lead, using a sopping-wet filter to punch through a battery of snare rolls. It's not quite as big a tear-up, but still hugely satisfying. The EP's second half is less rambunctious, although in dialling back, Gerstaffelen sacrifices none of the impact. The reversed synth lines that flow through "Little Green Munchkin Men"'s second half produce an odd discord, putting the brakes on a charging rhythm. "When the Mind Stops," with its synth riff that resonates like organ pipes played with soft mallets, is an out-and-out earworm. This is either a stunning debut or a welcome new project; either way, Gerstaffelen is a name to watch.
  • Tracklist
      A1 The Old Villagers A2 Game On Major B1 Little Green Munchkin Men B2 When The Mind Stops
RA