DJ GONZ - Magical Negro Overdrive - SELN Recordings
With continuous technical progress, making music is not only accessible to a wider range of people, but the sound aesthetics also are influenced by this progress as well. Of course, you could imitate all kinds of hardware with plug-ins, sample packs and editing, but the temptation of clean sound design fetishism is strong with digital audio workstations, and many buzzworthy labels of the last years tend to go in this direction. But there are some labels and producers, that keep their focus on working with a certain combination of hardware to create their signature sound based on them.
One of these labels is SELN Recordings, founded and run by Conrad Pack and Gonçalo Neto from London. Since 2022 the founders shaped the label’s very own sound of Soundsystem culture influenced Techno alongside other acts from their circle. Neto aka DJ Gonz himself appeared on some split-EPs on their label and released one album Messenger on London’s Jolly Discs affiliated Wain Records. He returns to his own imprint with seven tracks that underline his, as well as the labels approach.
No Angles sets the tone to let the audience know they’re back in Gonz’s world: dark, moving synths and glimpses of rhythms pave the way for Who Do You Ride For?. The vibe carries over in this piece, supplemented by raw drum work, dramatic strings and a continuous acid line. Known Cause is a great example for Neto’s very own dark, warehouse Techno. A Relentlessly driving big room tool above the 150bpm. Distorted, metal inspired sounds on Becoming Something Strange make it a perfect transition between two dance tunes, not losing a bit of tension. G.O.O.D.S., based on continuous warm chords and raw machine drums, is a very atmospheric jam, only supplemented by well-crafted delayed and echoed hits. Title track Magical Negro Overdrive shows his Kuduro and Soundsystem influences very well, with a percussion sample, reminiscing of a Digital Mystikz with tons of reverb, and a stepping kickdrum groove. As before rounded up by tripped out and delayed percussion, as well as a throughout synths and bleeps. Acid sweeps like water drops alongside the signature sinewave-moving synths round off the album. Root Tears’ melancholic vibe and it’s well arranged, well meshing sounds is a patiently arranged jam for early hours.
Quoting a short snippet in from Stephen King’s Shining in the info text, where Dick Holloran is pierced with an axe by Jack (the image of Jack Nicholson attacking Scatman Crothers might appear in your head) makes a lot of sense when you listen to this piece of music.
