- A colourful ode to the clubbing capital.
- "I'm moving to Berlin."
It's a declaration thrown around by DJs, producers and punters craving a life in one of the world's top nightlife scenes. It's also the theme of a new EP from the Australian-turned-Berliner (by way of London) Bell Towers, who's dedicated his new record to the city, and more specifically, the beloved gay party Cocktail d'Amore.
You might know Bell Towers mostly from a string of colorful house-focussed releases on Public Possession, a German label based in Munich. His tracks for Cocktail d'Amore were made around the time he moved to Berlin a few years ago. The record's inner-sleeve describes an individual's (presumably Bell Towers, but not necessarily) experience with the indulgent magic of parties that stretch far past sunrise. The sleeve also includes a clipping of an essay on a fictitious newspaper article about a UN-sponsored "moose census." It's the kind of cheeky randomness familiar to fans of Bell Towers.
As a DJ, he has regularly watched over the dance floor at Cocktail d'Amore, a hedonistic party and label founded by the trio of Discodromo and the Berghain resident Boris. It's known as a brighter alternative to Berlin's darker techno parties, and is a fitting complement to Bell Towers' style. His love letter to the party might just be the next best thing to being there.
Bell Towers is also no stranger to utilizing his own wonky vocals to add a tongue-in-cheek narrative to his music, most recently heard on My Body Is A Temple, his 2018 EP for Unknown To The Unknown. I'm Moving To Berlin's title track leads with a hefty bassline and churning groans and sirens that power the vocal, a tale of reckless abandon that blames Cocktail d'Amore for causing someone to lost their job and their wife. "Sexual Intruder Alert" is equally churning. Robotic vocals get thrown into a mix of speedy bass, muffled radio samples, and a variety of weird knick-knacks that create a chaotic yet fun experience. "Approach & Identify" goes cosmic with punchy drums and a hypnotic, stripped groove. The latter two tracks are effective, but you should be here for the colorful title tune.
TracklistA1 I'm Moving To Berlin
B1 Sexual Intruder Alert
B2 Approach & Identify