PEPE レコード& CD

Review: Valencia's Pepe has built up quite a discography over the last few years, with this fine outing on Church following similarly impressive releases for Let's Play House, Lobster Theremin, Loose Fit and Sprung. The EP's impressive title track is available in two variations: the sparkling, breakbeat powered "Roll Mix" - think hip-house style drums, weighty dub bass and occasional dreamy chords - and a "Bleep Mix" that beefs up the sub-bass while adding some suitably sparse, computer game style electronic melodies. Another clear highlight is "You Must Not Be Me", a fine combination of rush-inducing, sunrise-ready electronics and bustling breaks, while closing cut "Recollection" is a rather lovely drift into opaque ambient territory.

Review: Having been impressed by his fine EPs on In Paris and Renascence, Lobster Theremin has invited Pepe to join the family. Lemon Fanta, his debut for the lauded London imprint, could well be his musically adventurous and hard-to-pigeonhole 12" to date. Check, for example, A-side "Rainfall (Part I & II)", a wonderfully luscious and loved-up deep house epic full of rush-inducing piano notes, swirling electronics, xylophone style melodies and loose, off-kilter hand percussion. The deliciously sweet and sugary title track sounds like a tooled-up contemporary take on dream house classic "Sueno Latino", while "Benzine Electronics" is a dewy-eyed drift through deep house/electro fusion with more than a few nods towards hazy Balearica.