Retro/Grade - Moda

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  • One of dance music's biggest contradictions is that, thanks to digital distribution, new music has never been so plentiful or easily accessible yet most new releases can easily be pigeonholed into a narrowly defined and restrictive micro-niche. Take a glance over the new releases section of any digital download store and you'll be confronted with hundreds of contrived sound-a-like records which were created with the sole purpose of simply achieving an of-the-moment sound. It comes as pleasant surprise, then, that Retro/Grade, AKA Serge Santiago and Tom Neville, are making records that refuse to fit into one neat sub-section of electronic music. Their first release, "Moda," is a seductive blend of Italo disco and early electro with the added gusto, punch and loudness of a modern production. Those familiar with the producers will instantly recognise Serge Santiago's love of obscure Italo disco flowing through the track but may be surprised or even put off to see Tom Neville's name on the credits, what with his history with well-produced but generally quite uninspiring electro house. However, one listen to "Moda" is likely to set doubters straight. Punchy drums give way to a chugging apreggiated synth line that's reminiscent of Mr Flagio's awesome Italian stomper "Take a Chance." This preempts some nifty hook-laden synth work that has more than an air of Kano about it, before an unashamedly overblown breakdown takes the record down to a series of atmospheric analogue bleeps. The track then bursts back into life with some unusual off-kilter buzziness before breaking back into the incessant groove. Surprisingly, this is all achieved without sounding at all cheesy or predictable. Currently finding favour with DJ's as diverse as DJ Hell, Annie Mac, Erol Alkan and Horse Meat Disco's Severino; "Moda" is a record that could turn up in just about anyone's set when it is released in a limited run of vinyl this month.
  • Tracklist
      A Moda
RA