Alejandro Vivanco - Madre Tierra

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  • Chilean producer Alejandro Vivanco is trafficking in Cadenza's signature sound on his debut for the label. Built out of organic percussion patterns, fine mists of digital noise and obtuse sound design, this single falls firmly in line with the work of labelmates such as Luciano and Digitaline. ‘Lemon Lab’ kicks things off on an ominous note, with sputtering electronics clicking about the stereofield atop a thick layer of granulated reverb. Gradually a beat congeals into a grooving mass of meticulous rhythms that skip lithely across the deep chasm of ambience at the track's core. It's a nice balance between experimental density and dancefloor playfulness. ‘Dissolved' is a more direct affair with an obvious party vibe to it. Busy congas squiggle around beneath a thick smear of syrupy filters while handclaps and a swaggering bass line carry on above; meanwhile, Vivanco’s ominous atmospherics continue to loom over the mix. The production may be impeccable, but the result isn’t nearly as effective as on ‘Lemon Lab,’ confusing the listener with its mixed signals rather than drawing them in. The expansive title track takes the EP out on a languid groove of a beat. Underpinned by deep bass tones and lush clave samples, it lacks the quirky inventiveness of Villalobos’ likeminded arrangements, but it makes up for it with uncluttered programming and simplistic forward motion. Somehow managing to sound simultaneously deliberate and off-the-cuff, the track is hypnotic and almost trance-like in its repetition, providing a compromise between straight up dancefloor attack and the idiosyncratic minimalism of Vivanco’s colleagues. Despite its somewhat mixed offerings, ‘Madre Tierra’ is a solid showing for the young producer that not only has an ability to craft a killer beat but has a deft ear for sound design as well. Music for packed, darkened dancefloors to be sure.
  • Tracklist
      A1 Lemon Lab A2 Dissolved B1 Madre Tierra
RA