PREMIERE: A1 – North Phase – Cyclone [SHR005]

Contact: detectionaudio@gmail.com

It was a dark and mystical night upon the Seven Hills of the Steel City. A local man peered out of his window and noticed two masked figures in the distance. Stood perfectly still, staring gazingly at the moon and talking amongst themselves. It was clear that both were onto something. A hatched plan was waiting to be executed. Without warning, the pair scattered back down the hillside at pace and approached the man at his humble abode. ‘Who are you?’, the man whispered tentatively. A short, but deadly pause followed.. The hooded men turned to look at eachother and nodded. It was time. Slowly, they removed their hoods, looked back towards the man intently and sneered coldly: ‘North Phase’.

North Phase is the fusing of two long-standing DJ’s and producers, Robert James and Burnski. Both artists have navigated through the game for years with strong reputations under various aliases and sounds. Burnski, a major player in the underground sound, has contributed many electronic warpers under his Constant Sound and INSTINCT imprints. Robert James repped the catalystic Hot Creations movement for years and performed in an exhibition of the biggest world-wide parties and has featured records with the likes of Gottwood, Two years back, he initiated his Body Movement’ label. Created to explore a new sound and direction into the darker regions of the house, breaks and electro sphere.

The pair have been locked away in the studio like mad scientists working on new music as a unit. North Phase was born and they arrive at the peak of their powers. So far, their productions have been soley released on Burnski’s ‘Pilot’ sub-imprint. This time, their latest quartet of club weapons feature with the highly rated Seven Hills clan, and they’ve pulled no punches with this one.

The ‘Cyclone’ EP opens with the titled A1 – ‘Cyclone’. A 132bpm club pulse-raiser that strikes with a menace. Shifty high-hats lock into the groove early and interject with the lucid synth-line as tough snares provide a tribalistic vibration to the beats. The bassline is dogged and ruthless, coursing through the track like a tempest alongside beams of trippy laser stabs. NRGGGGG’. A2 ‘Time Zone’ possesses a similar dance-floor prowess as the lead bass-synth supplies the charge and rhythm. In the latter stages of the bassline, delicate pads inject a mystifying melody and weave their way into the break-down. Creating a moment of calm and solace before disappearing into the abyss as the second bassline breaks free and soars once again.

Onto B1 and the pace increases as the sound switches-up on the flip. ‘Room 1’, a devious breakbeat encounter that acts as a perfect set opener or vibe-raiser. Gnarly breaks grit their teeth and build inside the intro, incorporating the same grungy and junglistic vibe as ‘Cyclone’. A deathly pause awaits, before the madness escalates as the bass spirals and roars into action. It’s a tough, no-holds-barred hammer of dark and twisted UK energy. Lastly, ‘Groover Merchant’ on B2 closes the EP in spiritual style. A peculiar track, that emits the energy of a dance-floor that is occupied by the remaining ravers at the end of the night. The bass is translucent and smothered with a plethora off floaty textures that invigorate the dreamy mood. Sharp high-hats pulsate throughout the track and insist that a 2-step energy is maintained as the curtain finally closes and the night comes to an end.

Purchase the record: https://bit.ly/3qAnP4V

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