La Peña - La Peña #2

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  • If you're a record buyer and possess just a little bit of internet know-how, chances are it's been a while since a mysterious and elusive white label remained mysterious and elusive for any period of time. The decorative label of this 12-inch doesn't reveal much about the origins of the music. But a quick Discogs and Google search on the plate's catalogue number reveal it to be the second release on La Peña by the synonymous artist (a duo comprised of Miguel Ayala and Arno Völker, perhaps better known for their work as Einzelkind). Having satisfied the gluttonous lust for information that so defines our times, one can then move on to the actual music. "Cheesecake" starts things off with a pounding house beat that calls to mind early Daft Punk, and when the bassline is slowly filtered in that late '90s/early '00s French vibe is maintained. Filters are applied with great effect, with funky bleeps and inaudible vocal snippets layered around the bass and the beat and when the low end is brought back in after a long breakdown, the drop is almost of stadium anthem proportions. "Cheesecake" utilises the same bass line as Jolly Music's "Radio Jolly" from 2001 and calling the La Peña number derivative might be a mild way of phrasing it, but in light of the semi-anonymous nature of the release one is tempted to think of it as a unauthorised remix. On the flip side we first find a more jacking house number, a refrain of "keep bustin'" is repeated over a simple and sleazy bass pattern. The third and final track is set off by a guitar lick and vocal sample proclaiming that "it's not so bad" and really it's quite good; a groovy but laidback bassline picks up the pace, helped along by organ chords, guitar plunks and flute-sounding pads for the next six minutes. All three tracks are functional party tunes and, given how the phrase "DJ tool" has been bandied about lately both as a derogatory and complimentary term, views might be split on this single. For this reviewer, the b-side is the stronger of the two: Both of the tracks are just as powerful as the a-side, but more subtle and low-key.
  • Tracklist
      A1 Cheesecake B1 Beep Kustin' B2 Not So Bad
RA