Shcuro – Echoplexia

Badman designer of all naive artworks and one of our closest fam, Shcuro steps up to the plate this time as a music-maker and a mean bassbin shaker with his naive debut Echoplexia. As a producer and DJ, João Ervedosa is one of those not-so-hidden-anymore treasures from Lisbon, with tracks out on Dark Entries, Lobster Theremin and other dope labels. But he's also become a vital node of the Portuguese scene by connecting several generations of ravers via his own label, party and radio show Paraíso - a platform devoted to documenting past, present and future of the local rave movement. On top of all of that, he's an excellent human too.

Kicking things off with a lot of finesse and power, EP opener "Far Out" merges Digital Mystikz dub hauntologies with the UK-centric breakbeat styles of Leftfield circa "Africa Shox". Lift-off comes in the shape of the second track "Temptation", a number that's sure to nail ravers down to the ground of many a discerning techno moshpit; dub echoes mingling with cavernous clangs, Detroit pads and elegant beats roll over tons a' relentless bass. A3 cut "Bassforce" brings in the LFO-style creepy strings to good use while technoid, broken riddims erupt in a way that references golden age dubstep, jungle and raw T++ tunes. Swaying all expectations thus far, fourth track "Drowned" sends us into shiny anxiolytic bliss, with its crunched-down beats, dripping-wet soul samples and Maria Amor's dreamy textural vocals. Label mum-sweetie Violet takes a left turn into metallic electro rambunction with sub-bass wobbles, trancey stacks of synths and a breezy sense of melody. Closing down the EP in the best possible way, we've got none other than naive's main girl - and utter twitter champion - Ilana Bryne also on the remix, condensing a liquid breakbeat roller that sounds like the offspring of LTJ Bukem and Wookie; meditative and atmospheric airs of hope and mystery float over lean, funky kicks, snares and subs, irradiating healing vibes galore.