R-A-G - Rage EP

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  • Ignoring more obvious labels, if there's a word that suitably describes Aroy Dee's M>O>S Recordings, it's "analogue." His own output on the imprint—and that of the few artists working alongside him—infrequently shies from vintage sounds. Here, Dee teams up with Italian producer Marco Spaventi for R-A-G's second release, sticking faithfully to the label's established palette. In the title track, this sees them employ an abrasive saw wave bassline. A mellifluous synth gusts over the low end's jagged peaks, acting as a logical counterpoint. Thin cymbals and flurries of claps obscure the whole number, making it hard to get a handle on what's actually a quite a simple—and decent—tune. Spaventi and Dee's own remix tightens these cacophonous edges and squeezes in some pistol-shots of acid, reminiscent of '90s arcade game effects. "Without U" doesn't attempt a radically different approach to either version of "Rage" but makes life calmer by removing the saw-waving fury. It's more than a little bit Italo Johnson, but a melancholic flavour differentiates it from the bouncy series of white labels. At the end of the record, a brief Reprise distills this feeling into a highly potent DJ tool. "September" is shot through with acid—another fixture on the imprint—but with a pleasing sense of restraint. Tootling jazz keys and undulating, phased claps complete a drowsy mood. It's a vital inclusion which gives the record some diversity, something anyone will appreciate.
  • Tracklist
      A1 Rage (Extended Epic Version) A2 Without U (G-String Dub) B1 Harold's Invention B2 Rage (Spaventi & Aroy Rawmix) B3 Without U (Reprise)
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