FaltyDL – Phreqaflex review

A regular fixture on Mike Paradinas’ Planet Mu label, fans of New York’s FaltyDL will be pleasantly surprised by the new sounds bubbling over on this new release, “Phreqaflex”. Previous releases like the album Love Is A Liability and the Bravery EP (as well as remixes of the xx and Mount Kimbie) have definitely looked toward the other side of the Atlantic, in thrall to British musicians like Aphex Twin, Squarepusher and Burial. Now, DL has produced three tracks that show a distinctive UK funky and old-school garage influence.

Lead song “Phreqaflex” has the perfect mix of low down organ stabs, high-pitched hats and thick kicks to set any modern or old-timer garage fan off into a gleeful step. DL’s own particular style and character still shines through, for example in the detuned bamboo percussion, but it’s probably the most straight-up booty shaking record he’s made to date. Brilliantly arranged, with beats cutting in and out all held together with the seminal “Think” tambourine sample buzzing away, it’s a dirty delight.

Just as essential, “Because You” keeps on an instrumental tip, balancing sub-sonic bass and a slew of pitched up drum hits while eerie reverbed Rhodes stabs give it a haunting vibe. “My Friends Will Always Say” however is warmer, adding a soulful acapella into the mix whilst keeping the essential ingredients of trebly drums and deep, rounded bass very much in effect. It’s a great place to start if you’re a newcomer to FaltyDL, and the release as a whole is a treat both for the head and for the floor.

Oliver Keens