Heatsick – Dream Tennis review
The launch of yet another disco label in the current climate is never likely to elicit a flutter of excitement amongst any regular consumer of vinyl, yet the CockTail D’Amore endeavour undertaken by Berghain resident DJ Boris and Italian duo Discodromo at least promised something different from the substandard edit norm with their inaugural sampler. Released back in February on a clear twelve notable for the Selleck like artwork, it featured some fine talent in Massimiliano Pagliari, Bottin, Hard Ton and Ichisan with four tracks that leaned on the analogue sound and straddled the acid, proto and shimmering variants of the house spectrum.
Arriving some months later is the label’s second release which sees the debut on twelve inches of vinyl of Heatsick. Purveyors of the DIY tape and CDr subculture will be familiar with Heatsick, aka East Anglian producer transposed to Berlin Steven Warwick, who has a rich catalogue of releases on obscure imprints with uber scene LA imprint Not Not Fun perhaps the most familiar. Amanda Brown’s label (and offshoot 100% Silk) are increasingly and rightfully becoming a reference point in the current climate, but a round of applause must be dedicated to Boris and the Discodromo guys for snapping up Heatsick for what is a truly engaging release.
His is a talent worth paying attention to, not least because the presence of a Prins Thomas Diskomiks is the least impressive aspect of Dream Tennis. Central to the original track is a kaleidoscopic treatment of a vintage Casiotone keyboard, its rusted rhythms oscillating outwards with true intent over equally strained Chicago House drum patterns. Seemingly endless in its progression, “Dream Tennis” is a track worthy of NNF offshoot 100% Silk and a magnificent coup by Cocktail d’Amour overseers Discodromo and DJ Boris.
As mentioned Scandolearic chairman of the board Prins Thomas props up the B Side with one of his sprawling Diskomiks revisions, which implements the usual array of live instrumentation but only really gets interesting when ripples of acid menace rise to the fore. Might we suggest Prins Thomas starts doing some Teknomiks? It’s the other remix courtesy of Cómeme’s Diegors which veers close to matching the delight of the original, with the Chilean bringing to the fore a hitherto undisclosed sonic restraint that embellishes proceedings with an otherworldly Mr Fingers vibe.
Tony Poland
