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VA. – Ostentatious Vol. 1 (Opulence)

The Opulence label is a brand new venture from Jonny Cruz and Cali Lanauze. These experienced pair have many credits between them, including realizes on labels like Cocoon and Poker Flat as well as also working together on beats of rate mighty My Favourite Robot. They kick off this new imprint with 12 tracks from a range of artists that really set out a stylistic stall for the future.

Jonny and Cali’s own tune ‘Equanimity’ is one of the standouts with warm, rolling drums and frazzled synths smearing out from a tribal percussive line. Deep but physical, it is a slick cut for sure. The experienced Guido Schneider also impresses wit his collab with Daniel Dreier. Called ‘Take Me Home’ it is a deep, bubbly tune with supple synth lines and a sweet electronic funk. The little known Womb comes correct with ‘Vosper‘, a dubby house cut with rattling chords and slick drums all working you into a lather.

‘Seven Days’ from Pablo Mateo is a darker tune, with urgent drums and a late night mood brings a sense of paranoia and menace to the table. Overall the vibe here is deft, delicate and minimal house but house with real soul. It is 4am tackle for the heads and the intake club spaces and ‘A Deeper World’ from Javier Carballo is a case in point with its shakers, trippy keys and warm pads swirling round like a dream.

Other highlights of many come from Alexi Delano and Marc Ashken, who link for ‘Inner City Shift’, a spa ed out number that takes you well into the cosmos with its raining keys and slight but seductive drum lines. ‘The Moon’s Landing’ from Atellier Francis is a celestial number with edgy chords adding real suspense and is just another great part of this fascinating and fantastic musical puzzle.

On this evidence, this is going to be a fine new label.

‘Various Artists – Ostentatious Vol.1’ will be available on May 18th on Opulence.

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