Sebo K – Roller Coaster From S2S review

You get the sense that Sebo K is a man currently enjoying his new found freedom. Having now completed his studies that enforced a double life as a student / DJ, the German is now hitting the studio and the road full time. That feeling of liberation is clearly rubbing off on his production, as displayed on his latest single, where we see him breaking away from the house sound of his Mobilee releases and opting instead for some of the dirty funk-infused breakbeat of his past.

Sebo Kazey always had a close relationship with breakbeat. Although it was his housier tracks such as “Saxtrack,” “Far Out,” “Dvia” and “Rancho Relaxo” with Anja Schneider that become huge club tracks and established his name on the scene, it was with breakbeat that he entered the world of DJing. Starting off at Berlin’s Bass Terror night, just like fellow Berlin mainstay Dixon, Sebo experimented with his sound free from the constraints of straight up house music. Now on Sonar Kollektiv, we see him pushing this exploration once again. “From S2S” creeps along with snapping, broken beats and some stretched out, retro synths that bring a sense of drama to the track. A dirty bassline squeezes beneath as a female vocal and jazz-like keys wash the track in an almost haunting soulfulness. The title track follows, taking on more of a raw, breaks feel but wrapped up in elements of funk. Also infused with a strong sense of drama, “Roller Coaster” sounds like the soundtrack to an action movie, its rolling breaks and atmospheric FX complementing such a cinematic episode perfectly.

His last release on Mobilee, “Spirits,” perhaps saw Sebo playing it too safe by conforming to the standard blueprint of house music. Therefore, it is great to see him mixing it up and pushing new directions and in such an engaging style with “Roller Coaster, From S2S.” Slotting perfectly onto Sonar Kollektiv, this is Sebo K back to his best.

Review: Tom Jones