Munich DJ/producer Max Cavalerra releases his latest offering ‘Luck’n’Love’ on Karmarouge, a label whose ethos is to discover and nurture young talented artists. They definitely must see potential in Cavalerra, but ‘potential’ really is the operative word here, as while some good elements are at play on two of the three tracks, ultimately the EP doesn’t reach the upper tier of dance music productions.
The title track is an emotive warm floaty number which rolls along at a gentle yet danceable pace. Trance-like undertones are subtlety present, and the beats are sharp and crisp. Be warned: this track may spontaneously induce pilled-up ravers to hug the nearest stranger and start gushing about how much they love them. It’s a far cry from and a fresh alternative to the deluge of dark minimal numbers that have been making the rounds the last few years, and will work better at sunrise in the open country rather then in a dark sweaty club. Of course if dark and evil is your thing you won’t be overly impressed.
‘2007’ is far more disappointing. It ups the trance quotient, but inside it’s really striving to be an electro banger. I can imagine kids in Ghent with glow sticks getting down to this; the cheesy repetitive melody simply loops over and over again, leaving you bored and cringing.
Finally, ‘Space Department’ is a hypnotic ambient affair, which lies on the more minimal spectrum of the scale, but still retains the warm positivity of the opening track. Again, the main melody loops throughout, but much more effectively this time around as elements subtlety come and go in a dreamy fashion. This is a definitely a number to wind things down with rather than to ignite the dance floor, but could lead well into an epic end of the night number.
Throwaway track ‘2007’ aside, the warm lushness of this EP gives it a little bit more distinction than a lot of other music out there and is a step in the right direction. If Cavalerra could tone down the cheesiness and make his tracks a little less simple, he could be on to something positive.
Tracklist: Max Cavalerra - Luck’n’Love
A1 Luck'N'Love
B1 2007
B2 Space Department
| 
