- A "tropical futurist" take on house and techno.
- Merecutek is the second 12-inch from the Brooklyn-based Colombian DJ, producer and multi-instrumentalist Prince Of Queens, AKA Felipe Quiroz. On this five-track EP for Names You Can Trust, Quiroz reimagines house and techno through a "tropical futurist" lens. He plays synth and bass in the self-described "tropical futurist" quartet Combo Chimbita, and the music on this EP came together between tours, during long nights holed up with his machines at his Ridgewood studio, Casa Del Indio. As Prince Of Queens, Quiroz producers without computers or DAWs, instead embracing sequencers, drum machines and modular synthesizers, recorded to an eight-channel tape machine.
On his first release, The Scene Over, Quiroz felt influenced by the black and brown originators of Detroit techno and house producers like Masters At Work, reinterpreted from his perspective as a Colombian immigrant in New York. Merecutek widens Quiroz's musical vision, apparent from the first chirps of metallic percussion and acid basslines of the opening track, "Se Va Se Va." The title track, a highlight, is built around a strong beat that blends elements of '90s Cabo Verdian funaná with merengue percussion and nostalgic synth melodies.
The A-side closes with mid-tempo cumbia with sluggish rebajada vocals by Hellotones. This detour hints at the breadth of influences behind Merecutek. But Prince Of Queens' music isn't as much about being rooted in Afro-diasporic dance music as it is about reimagining its traditions. "Tropical Past & Future" shares a name with a monthly party where Prince Of Queens and Names You Can Trust regulars spin a range of tropical sounds, from folkloric Colombian music to experimental techno explorations like "Tecosita," the final track. If the progression from first to second release is any indication, we can look forward to whatever comes next from Prince Of Queens.
TracklistA1 Se Va Se Va
A2 Merecutek
A3 Cumbia Por Las Sombras feat. Hellotones & Sonidera Blue
B1 Tropical Past & Future
B2 Tecosita