- Two leftfield house gems by the D.C. newcomer.
- "Decode" by Soso Tharpa was one of last year's sleeper hits. I know, because I slept on it. Fun and full of vim, it nailed a satisfying balance: wacky and festival-ready. His follow-up was self-released last Friday to help him and his mother through a difficult patch. "Boogaloo Shrimp" is big and groovy, with smudged keys, woody percussion and a bassline powerful enough to hold any crowd. "Saag" is quirkier and better. Tharpa swaps the four-on-the-floor churn for what sounds like an entire drum troupe going for broke at a Broadway show. Several rhythms, each different in tone and timbre, ping, scrape and crash in perfect sync, their energy boosted by thick bass notes and sweet female chanting. Like "Decode," it's funky as hell.
Tracklist01. Boogaloo Shrimp
02. Saag