- Frenzied and funky rave nostalgia on Slow Life.
- The timing for Wil Do's debut couldn't have been worse. Released on mari.te's always on-point Tresydos label, the record—groovy deep house with notes of acid—should have been a breakthrough for the rising Paraguayan producer. But it came out right at the end of 2020, when most of the world was locking down for a second time and we were all learning that "Delta" was the worst letter of the Greek alphabet (for the time being). He continued at a slow, but steady pace, releasing another 12-inch and contributing to a few compilations in the meantime. His latest record feels like a totally different beast—and a fresh start. Vieja Guardia, released by Slow Life, is a chaotic yet groovy frenzy of rave and '90s house.
Both Wil Do's previous releases had plenty of energy, but also felt refined and tasteful. There were hints of prog euphoria, sure, but these were fleeting. Vieja Guardia, on the other hand, is like shaking up a Magic 8 Ball and seeing what sort of '90s signifiers come out. "Final Space" offsets trance melancholy with spacey Detroit-style arpeggios, all over a chunky plucked bassline. The frenetic "Solaris," starts off as a lean tech house tune, but by the time the piano solo hits, things go completely haywire. An organ melody into rave stabs into some 303 noodling? Why not! Just when you think you've got his reference points down, though, Wil Do throws a curveball. The closer "Obsession" accents a Kerri Chandler-esque piano line with vinyl spin backs. The drum programming has a slight syncopation to it, landing somewhere between old school US garage and Congress's "40 Miles."
Vieja Guardia, or "the old guard," is the perfect title for this record. It's a tip of the hat to his nostalgic sound palette, but it's also a nod to Slow Life, which has been around long enough that they are no longer the hipster upstarts that they were once upon a time. Instead, the Berlin collective has influenced a whole new generation of producers. And while Vieja Guardia is certainly one of the most raucous releases in their catalogue, it's also easy to hear how Laurine and Cecilio's unadulterated love of every part of house history has informed Wil Do's own approach to production.
TracklistA1 This Is Your Life (4am Mix)
A2 Final Space
B1 Solaris
B2 Obsession