Gold 2000 (repress) vinyl

From the Sex Tags Mania Vaults comes Don Papa's Gold 2000. This record has held a special place in the heart of the Norwegian label's many devotees, simply for the startling impact of the of the music contained within. It was certainly an accomplished debut for a relatively unknown producer (who has seemingly emerged to solely release on Sex Tags), finding fresh breathing room in the deep house barracks by opening the window so that an ever so slightly nasty acidic tone could waft its way in, as beautifully demonstrated on "Bass Synthezise House". While the atmospheric hum rings out with a sci-fi wonder, the bass synth that gets brought in squelches in all the right places, chunky and misshapen but loaded with groove. "Done (Piano)" is more direct, with a neat and tidy beat ticking away behind steadfast ivory-tinkled chords, but still there's a strangeness at work in the background that manifests itself in obtuse scrapings. Likewise "Zombie Bass" finds itself in a strange electro space where the good ship UR has departed, leaving interstellar debris in its wake for Don Papa to stick together in a peaceful and mysterious new form. As is so often the case, the realisation of the ideas on this release are devastatingly simple and unfussy, wielding that aforementioned weird approach with a deft touch that never veers as far as obtuse in its quest for originality. It's an essence that runs through the majority of the Sex Tags back catalogue.

Mark E, Mental Overdrive, AntonZap, Da GobliNN /Remuted