The lead track from Polish production duo Earth Trax and Newborn Jr’s new EP is also the best. “Maze” is an acid march – an insistent and irresistible beat gives it something of a martial air, shattered in turn by the resonant sound of gorgeous, ethereal synth waves. Take old school Hyperactive and lock him in the studio with dreadlocks-era Josh Wink and there you have it.
The casual disdain these guys share for the boundaries of genre continues with “Where There’s a Will, There’s A Way,” which contrasts throwback street-lethal breakbeats with big buoyant chords you’d probably expect to come across in the deepest of deep house. “Acid Burn” rolls on with dynamic, aggressive electro chords and beatless bass. It leads a B-side which grows increasingly reflective and just plain… quiet. This is probably one of the strangest records by a single artist (well, duo) I’ve heard in awhile. I’m pretty much the only guy in the history of 5 Mag that has ever written about ambient music (or synthwave or electro for that matter), and I have to say its all very well done. How many people are like me, though, and like all of it, albeit in different settings? It wasn’t at all uncommon in the ’90s, especially among the freaked-out heads on the West Coast. There were even people who made ambient house and trip hop and played disco in their DJ sets. Does it still happen today? Is there still a market for it? One would hope, and we are not wrong for hoping so.
Earth Trax & Newborn Jr: Maze EP (Dopeness Galore)
1. Earth Trax & Newborn Jr: Maze (07:27
2. Earth Trax & Newborn Jr: Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way (06:10)
3. Earth Trax & Newborn Jr: Acid Burn (04:51)
4. Earth Trax & Newborn Jr: TechNoir (03:50
5. Earth Trax & Newborn Jr: Diamond Edge (04:38)
First published in 5 Magazine #159 featuring Jimpster, Lester Fitzpatrick, Pool Boy, Chip E. & more. Become a member of 5 Magazine for First & Full Access to Real House Music for only $1 per issue!
