MACARIE Vinyl & CDs

Review: Romanian minimal rising star Macarie claims the 5th release for Alter Hour, and what a way to mark it. Macarie brings us three new tracks with a remix from Algorhythmic founder and one half of Dubsons, Vlad Arapasu. Dipping into atmospheric synths frequently, Macarie once again focuses on the listening atmosphere in a project that would feel like surround sound even in mono. The title track is an absolute winner, a broody minimal tech-house magnum opus that is sure to become a hot favourite in international DJ sets, with the following track 'Nuttertools' living up to its cheeky title - calling upon a late 90s videogame soundfont to create a midtempo clash of drums, chiptune and bouncing synths. 'She Man Down' samples a rap vocal that I'm assuming is Three 6 Mafia but couldn't find (Macarie out-dug me on that one,as to be expected); The Arapasu remix is stellar, playing with progressions and drops like it's nothing and creating a spooky effect with the chopped up vocal.