Urlaubshits

Soft Rocks are probably best known for their edits, but this new EP on Mule Musiq sublabel Endless Flight follows up their recent remixes of Low Motion Disco and MGMT by treading the more righteous path of original production (or, at least using occasional samples instead of editing wholesale).

If you’re familiar with Soft Rocks, the opener, “Light Bulb” will probably come as a massive shock, primarily because it wastes no time in hitting you with an acid bassline which is driven along by motorik drum machine beats. It’s a far cry from the balearic groove which they have been traditionally characterised by, but given their reputation as crate diggers and editors, it makes sense that acid house would probably be an influence of some kind. It’s a smart and successful move which will probably gain them listeners which may otherwise have overlooked them as just nu-disco producers.

“Essra” is more what I would have expected from Soft Rocks. Its jazzy drums and balearic piano are a stark counterpoint to the A-side, but it matches the acid intensity of that by slowly but surely building up to a multi-layered guitar climax. It’s good, but it’s probably the final track, “Dlalulac”, which is most interesting. I’ve read things saying that it sounds like Jean-Luc Ponty, and after listening, it’s easy to see why. After beginning with some deep house synths and tribal rhythms, the track brings in some sublime violins that give the whole thing a peculiar gypsy-folk feel, something which feels refreshingly different in the current sea of disco edits. Endless Flight released one of my top singles of last year, as well as the Betty Botox edit compilation, and this is another great release from a great label.

Listen:> Soft Rocks - Dlalulac

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Essra is out now on Endless Flight

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