Scottish selector and Etiket label head Renzo splits his time between Leeds, London and Edinburgh have always found a home where quality music is highly prized. I guess this would be an inevitable by-product of being involved in some of these cities’ success stories.
Though cutting his teeth in Edinburgh Renzo formed his label on the terraces, dancefloors, and DJ booths of some of the UK’s finest underground emporiums as well as his own show on London’s Bloop Radio. Etiket is now back for its second wax-only edition and again Renzo has collated four super complimentary cuts that display his own diverse taste and the studio skills of his mates.
Label head Renzo kicks off ETIKET002 with his garage-tinged roller ‘The Grove’ and it sets the tone for the rest of the release. Upfront bassy kicks and peaked out b-lines thud out some proper grooves in a similar vein to Pager Records and you know we have a soft spot for Markus and the team. The sweetness of the warbling Rhodes keys is balanced by a purposefully off-kilter string that detunes the track nicely. One of the best parts of ‘The Grove’ has to be during the main break when those garagey tones lead into the drop it’s vibe central.
Following on from Renzo’s lead bomb, Astral Wayne follows suit with another bass-heavy dark garage effort. The title of ‘Your Landlord Sells Avon’ might be playful but the sub-bass and tight percussion mean business.
Flipping over label regular C-Wendy returns with ‘Bim’s Robotics’. This time a more pensive laidback affair unfolds over the course of the track. Airy flute motifs and crisp drums combine to effortlessly produce a swaggering dance that draws in the listener. The ease and time taken to set up the melody and atmosphere is impressive and shows that it is as much about timing as anything else when setting up a groove.
Label newcomer Joe Highet delivers a nuanced deep roller that ebbs and flows in a similar way to ‘Bim’s Robotics’ but with a bit more punch and urgency. Rounding out the VA it is clear to see that Renzo has a keen ear for obscure but cohesive sounds and has tidily curated this four-track EP.
You can grab ETIKET002 from Juno.
More info on Renzo
Facebook | Resident Advisor | Soundcloud | Discogs
More info on Etiket
Facebook | Resident Advisor | Soundcloud | Discogs
