src002 by Various
Pandemic label celebrates progressive attitudes in dance music while paying homage to roots in early club culture
Second release from the fledgling Blue Hour sub-label positivesource (a collab between Luke Standing and Philippa Pacho) sees their retro take on Techno, Trance and Rave given further weight. Building on the foundations set by Oprofesssionell, Newa, Sugar and Alan Backdrop on src001 we have another four fresh cuts from Rove Ranger, Lady Starlight, Blue Hour and LDS.
Germany's Jan Range, aka Rove Ranger, opens this high-BPM assault with the EP highlight. Future Starts Today (Original Long Mix) kicks off hard and fast before the introduction of a slowmo synth sequence carries things along tunefully. US artist Lady Starlight's G 3.1 balances a bouncing bass and a sweeping synth line in hypnotic fashion, but the sparks fail to fully ignite. Blue Hour's Flashback feels like the most retro-spirited with high-pitched Rave vocals and breakbeats channelled to a tasteful, contemporary groove. On t.m. (fm mix) the Dub Techno aficionado LDS sounds like he's having fun, letting his hair down, playing it fast and frantic at 158 BPM!
Quality work all round, get onto this ASAP.