Classic, sun-kissed sounds coming in hot as Arnaud Rebotini and ACID WASHED share a housey tip from their upcoming vinyl venture on SKYLAX.
Parisian party people SKYLAX welcome fellow Frenchmen Arnaud Rebotini and ACID WASHED to the fold for an uplifting four-tracker which marks the second release in their SKYLAX BLACK series. ACID WASHED comprises of Andrew Claristidge and Richard D’Alpert, who bring effervescent and melodious sonic characteristics to the table as their equally hypnotic productions drive and twist with intent, painting their own musical universe inside.
“Redshifts to Blueshifts (R)” EP marks the first chapter of a secretive 4-part project — each release forming a piece of a bigger picture — a bold and mysterious tribute to the roots and future of rave culture. The EP kicks off with titular track, “Redshifts to Blueshifts” which hears classic, French-house-styled pads play with hints of chromatism as they usher in the sirens call as the synth line fuels and animates elements, paving the way for some those endlessly familiar strings before the trio styles it out. House and tech with a sprinkling of all things good.
Echoing Rebotini’s seminal album “Music Components”, the crew set to redress the original themes, delivering synonymous works but through a retrospective lens, drawing on years at the forefront of France’s electronic music scene. Embellishing on raw sounds and pure emotions from the ’08 release, the trio has dreamt up a modernist, unadulterated interpretation in which that rawness really shines through.
A2. Hears “99 Shakes” a driving dancefloor weapon that is dripping with automation, low-end, serious drum programming and undeniable gun-finger moments. Timeless pads, seriously effective filtering, laser gun resonant tweaks and a definite sense of soul… top-notch electronic dance music right there!
On the flipside, B1. “Futur Race” breaks it up a bit, with nods to classic electro, a breakbeat kit bobs and weaves as crunchy harmonies and eerie electro transmissions wind their way into the fore before the clouds split and an atomic acid bomb is dropped. A metropolis of bubbling goodness, quality stuff with nods to Drexciya and the like.
“Gen Mix” sends the record home hard as it draws on pure techno sounds, with some audible knob-twisting it keeps tensions high and the listener well-hooked on the end of the line, things appear to subside in classic last-track fashion just before the water reaches boiling point and the ante is upped. Clever and subtle changes inject energy and harmony without distracting from the impending pulsations too much!
With well over 100 vinyl releases and, naturally, dozens of sub-labels evolved from the SKYLAX sound, the labels’ success and contribution to not only the French scene but electronic music across the globe is duly noted. It’s dizzying to think how many spins these 12” will have seen around the world, how many special moments they will have soundtracked and just how much of an influence they will have made, quite remarkable really.
More on Arnaud Rebotini
Website | Instagram | Facebook
More on ACID WASHED
Facebook | RA | SoundCloud
More on SKYLAX
Instagram | Facebook | SoundCloud | Bandcamp
