Unknown Artist – The Freeze review

Artist: Unknown
Title: The Freeze
Label: Unknown/White Label
Genre: Minimal/Tech House
Format: Limited 12″
Buy From: Juno Records

A (semi) mysterious US import that landed on our doorsteps last week. We’ve been sworn to secrecy on this one, but we can give you a hint or two: the producer of this record runs one of the most prominent underground labels in the US and regularly plays at European clubbing hotspots ala Panorama Bar. Indeed, you could almost say this EP was made with the upstairs house sanctuary at Berlin’s most famous club in mind – “The Freeze” is chock full of that stripped back, Levon Vincent-esque house sound that you’ll often hear belting out of the Panorama speakers at silly o’clock.

On the flip, “The Melt Down” is a siren-led chugger that offers a perfect reprise to the opener, in both name and sound. A more subtle effort, a swirling synth line and shuffling percussion form a backdrop to the throbbing bassline. This is the kind of music that needs to be heard on a big system to be truly appreciated.

Review: Aaron Coultate