- Ican Productions kicks off its 2009 the same way it kicked off its 2008. And 2007. And 2006. The backwards-looking Caifornia-based, Detroit-bred imprint continues its relentless homage to its birthplace with three quality tracks that prove that there's nothing wrong with tradition.
El Coyote sees DJ Dex and Esteban Adame in collaboration for "Esfuerzo," a reaching-for-the-stars manifesto of live percussion and yearning strings. Its unbridled enthusiasm walks the fine line of cheese heard in the wrong context, but the deep bassline serves to ground things capably. Much harder is Gerald Mitchell's relentless Detroit techno burner "Los Sunshine." The pounding refrain is given some moody vocals and a hearty clap along the way, and is only leavened by a descending line. It's not much, but it effectively allows some of the titular rays to find their way in.
Closing things out is the highlight: Santiago Salazar and the aforementioned Adame take in influences from all over the map—most notably from Detroit and Los Angeles—on "Make It Hot" to craft something that reaches beyond both traditions. It's one of the first signs that the crew is finally getting past mere retreads—along with Salazar's forthcoming 12-inch on Macro. Just what is that keyboard solo four-and-a-half minutes in? Or the stop-start syncopation early on? The pieces may all be from somewhere specific, but the sum is something altogether different. And it's exactly the right way to treat tradition: As a jumping off point for somewhere else.
Tracklist A El Coyoye - Esfuerzo
B1 Gerald Mitchell - Los Sunshine
B2 Ican - Make It Hot