Co-founded and now run by German taste-making artist Dan Ruh, Brouqade has always championed forward-thinking music that caters exclusively for the underground. With more vinyl-only business on the horizon for this long-standing label, Dana now delivers the next instalment of the massively popular digital VA series.
First on the docket for this jam-packed VA is regular heads Yamen & Eda with “Teach Your Coffee”. Having been an integral part of the underground community since they arrived on the scene back in 2011, their sound has matured nicely over the years, but has always tread the deeper, techier side of house music. This time they opt for a spritely, daytime direction which is led by a wigged out synth line with some pensive pads to add a bit of mystery. A bounding bassline keeps the groove upbeat but has a killer footprint.
Taking things back to the beginning, the opening track on the VA comes from Danny Daze and Jonny From Space and “Slither” and the near beatless DJ tool acts as the perfect lead in to the release. Broken kicks give just the right amount of context to the synths that snake their way through the track. Rattling percussion and waning pads help to build the tension before the release comes via deep probing bass tones.
Next is the lucid dream of Bastard Love and Moogly’s “Bésame” and the detuned synths mixed with the lush arpeggiating bleepy synths conjure up a druggy moment that seems to stretch out to the end of the day. The breathy vocals and smart sample chopping only adds to this heady adventure.
Snad soon snaps the ear out of the k-hole funk of the previous track with “Faith In Numbers” with a fine garagey weapon that is primed for those sun-kissed open-air sessions. Opting to hold back on the full serve for a minute (more like 2 or 3), the intro takes its time in setting up the groove before dropping into full action mode. As always, the mixing and programming from Snad is spot on and, as expected, means his addition to a release is always a welcome sight.
Adam Rose & Sydka combine under their Big Red Button alias with “Post Funk”, and they rock out with a guitar heater. From the picked bass notes to the wigged out guitar-ish sounds, this seems to be the sweet spot where guitar music meets the underground.
Completing another fine digi VA, Dana has graciously chosen to present her track last, and she has made sure to make it count. The very cheeky musing that makes up the track intro turns out to be an integral part of “What’s Next In This Moment”. This booty-bass turned house workout has all the hallmarks of a bomb track that would decimate any party. The subtle pad that creeps into view gently nudges this track along, and when the string unveils itself, there is little more to say as the results will surely speak for themselves. Every track on this VA deserves to be pressed to vinyl, but this is just how strong Dana’s label is that she makes sure that she always keeps all sorts of music heads happy.
You can buy the VA from the Brouqade Bandcamp page now.
More info on Yamen & EDA
Instagram | Facebook | RA | Soundcloud | Discogs
More info on Brouqade
Instagram | Facebook | RA | Soundcloud | Bandcamp | Discogs
