- Punch-drunk batida that takes the Príncipe sound somewhere a lot more introspective.
- Lisbon's Príncipe label is most closely associated with a bouncy, staggered and sometimes roly-poly club sound—a syncretic blend of Angolan and Afro-Portuguese styles known as batida. But the label has branched out in many directions over its 12 years in business, establishing a romantic, sometimes uniquely Portuguese strain of dance music that emphasizes melancholy and nostalgia over boisterous beats—think DJ Lycox, PT Musik and the RS Produções. DJ Danifox, who, spending much of his time in Leeds, has always been something of an outsider to the label's group of producers, returns with Ansiedade ("anxiety"). The LP blends the prettier side of the Príncipe sound with its rawer, DIY history for one of the most original and striking LPs in its already impressive catalogue.
Ansiedade has a rough-and-tumble quality only enhanced by Danifox's talk-singing, where he repeats hooks and words in an eerie monotone, like punctuation with meaning. "I don't want to know anything anymore," he mutters in Portuguese on "Gentleman," where soulful synth guitar clashes with garish slap bass and drum programming. It all sounds like it's constantly overspilling the bars in a futile effort to keep emotions in check. On the trap-influenced "Ngapa," all tittering hi-hats and lunging basslines, his voice adds a distinct edge, especially when mirrored by creepy, high-pitched versions of Danifox's voice. There are delightful flute trills too.
The instrumentation on Ansiedade is striking both for its synthetic, often chintzy nature, as well as its deep pathos and lyrical elegance. "Robert Johnson," whose title hints at some of Danifox's inspiration, has some truly lovely guitar and flute that interplays over a limping beat that gestures at gqom. Eventually, though, it feels like some fever dream of a night in a jazz bar. "Ritual," which carries itself with the pulse and polish of dub techno, is adorned by a mournful pan-pipe, while highlight "Tarraxo"—referencing a bass-heavy and stomping style of Afro-Portuguese music—features ornate keyboard and strings. There's an almost orchestral grandeur to it, but in a down-home way, like you could imagine it soundtracking a steamy moment in a daytime soap opera.
This combination of sounds is unique to Danifox. We've heard these featherweight drums and FL Studio-style instruments before, but there's a grace, as well as a loneliness, to how Danifox puts them all together. The music is danceable but not terribly upbeat, aside from maybe "Mar Vista" or the opener "Ilha Dos Bruxos." Instead, Ansiedade is delicate, finding power in restraint and humility. My favourite track is "Parca," which has the album's most wounded swing. The sad piano that feels like it's being sprinkled over the top by a shaky hand, as vocals mutter percussively in the background. Dance music fans like to talk about tears on the dance floor, but few artists can sum up the feeling of trying to dance your troubles away while actively facing with them like Danifox can.
Tracklist01. Ilha dos Bruxos
02. Parça
03. Gentleman
04. Aleijada
05. Tarraxo 001
06. Ngapa
07. Ritual
08. Mar Vista
09. Robert Johnson
10. Chopper