Berlin-based QUEER and FLINTA* centric brand Seven have always ensured that they playfully touch the bases that intersect the many shades of house and techno. With three standout releases under their belts, they now present the wider spectrum of their musical vision with their first VA.
We begin our journey into their double 12-inch with B1 track “Cannot Stop” from newly formed project DD Boys aka Bailey Ibbs and Fergus Sweetland. A tough houser that, from the outset delivers an in-your-face bumpy sound that utilises abrasive percussion, but that soon beds in nicely to the rest of the groove with the arrival of the infectious bassline, softened synth stabs, and the stripped-back vocal inserts. Scything hi-hats also cut through the mix here, further cementing this unstoppable club tool.
The housey direction is opened somewhat with B2 “Cariata Feels” from Retromigration and the filtered hard groove beat tips the hat to the early 2000s tooly sound but with much more colour added splashed across it. Flipping over to side A and the VA opener “Dabz” from Sol Ortega sets off at a breakneck pace with room-filling claps, dub techno stabs, and wide-eyed vocal musings. Completing side A is “4 Ur Love” from Posture and there is no sign of the peak time energy dissipating. Instead, the high BPM is tempered perfectly with some excellent breakbeat action, ravey vocals, and a nice garage bassline.
Disc 2 almost seems to reset the action with Baka G’s uplifting “The Blue Spirit” and the jazzy synth lines and 90’s bassline really hit the mark intended. Sharing side C is Oliver Benji’s “Voicemail” and the pin-point grooves are tailor-made to be played on bigger sound systems without a doubt. The use of the repeated engaged tone is neatly executed and used to great effect here. Flipping over to side D and the VA finishes strong with ramped up with Ackerman’s turbo-charged tropical thumper “Wanna Do Right”, perhaps you might recognise the vocal sample, but we are certain you have not heard it in this context before.
You can buy both the vinyl 2 x 12 and digital version from the SEVEN Bandcamp now.
More info on SEVEN
Instagram | Bandcamp
