- Soo Wavey boss Vin Sol hasn't tended to stray too far from Chicago's much-tested formula of organs, pads and supple basses. But lately, like long-term collaborator and label partner Matrixxman, his ear's clearly been caught by the US's more recent underground experiments. His i-DJ mix was peppered with Beau Wanzer and Galcher Lustwerk cuts, and the A-side of this EP, labelled "Raw," sees him tackling a more mutant strain of house.
The flip, however, is pure Chicago throwback, and is underwhelming in its imitation. Littered with breezy pads and clunking snares, both "Pyramids" and "Meltdown" are uninspired takes on a well-tested formula. Though the former has some wiggle in its low-end, neither stacks up against the classics they're trying to emulate. Far better is the EP's modern side, where you can hear the evolution of that Chicago DNA. There's the big room vocal of "Cookies," which, surrounded by lo-fi drums and a bass that growls and sweeps rather than just bouncing around, sounds vibrant. The bass on the EP's highlight, "Spoiled Exile," could have rattled some bones in the Warehouse, but there's also an "Erotic Discourse"-style blipping that builds up in banks of echo, swamping the track then dissipating to reveal the funk again.
TracklistA1 Cookies
A2 Spoiled Exile feat. Matrixxman
B1 Pyramids
B2 Meltdow