Urlaubshits

If you go into this release expecting an old school acid house revival then you’ll probably be disappointed. Like most of Gomma’s artists Rodion makes fairly straight up dance music, but, it must be said, pretty good dance music. There’s a sense of unfettered joy present within this release, which, coupled with the relatively brief running times of the three tracks makes this an EP of brief but highly effective italo influenced electro house.

It’s obvious that acid house is an influence in these tracks. You can hear it definitively in the two minute long freakout during “Athena Acid”, but Rodion’s music is a real bricolage of disparate elements rather than just one obvious influence. It’s something that would be to his detriment if it weren’t for his ability to know when to stop, but it’s his knack for combining melodies and chords which go beyond the usual melancholy italo, and somehow end up crossing over into the schizophrenic which really manages to keep my attention. “Hello Yellow” starts with a tense rubbery acid bassline, but the tension is broken by an odd 8-bit melody which, along with the blend of disco influences and slightly sadistic sounds is slightly reminiscent of Mr. Oizo’s most recent material, managing to stay just that right side of maximal without veering into the territory of macho dross.

Listen:> Rodion - Athena Acid

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Athena Acid is out now on Gomma Records.

Buy the 12″ single from Juno.

Buy the MP3s from Juno Download.