Alex Flatner & LOPAZZ – ‘Courtesy’ EP

The ‘Courtesy’ EP is the latest release from German label Circle Music and features new music from multi-talented label owner Alex Flatner and his good friend/long time collaborator LOPAZZ.

Though both individually successful in their own right, this duo gets together whenever they can in order to treat fans to their special brand of tech house. Past offerings from the pair include 2012’s ‘Freedom of Heart’, as well as one of their tracks from earlier this year, ‘Purpose’. With the ‘Courtesy’ EP the Manheim duo give us three new tracks: ‘Courtesy’, ‘We’re No Good’ and ‘Discsid’.

The opening track ‘Courtesy’ is a slice of German tech house straight out of the textbook, which gives us the full works: old school sound, eerie vocals and pseudo-electronic feel. The track starts off by superbly blending together thumping bass (which does an excellent job in carrying the track) and the aforementioned eerie vocals, which strangely remind me of the rabbit from the film Donnie Darko (Odd I know).This track does what all good tech house should in my opinion, in the sense that it subtlety moves along, without ever making a big deal of itself; something which is somewhat of a lost art these days.

‘We’re No Good’ is a much more up-tempo cut, which is just that bit more tech than its predecessor. This track has a bigger electro focus and I feel that it will be a real crowd pleaser. It’s the sort of track which would be right at home at 3am in Sankeys. I even feel like having a dance whilst sitting here typing, though I’ll refrain for now!

The upbeat vocals work fantastically throughout, and the bridge breaks things back down to the track’s foundations. Alex Flatner & LOPAZZ do a superb job in slowly adding in all the elements of the beat as they build things back up again. They expertly re-add the vocals from a ghostly introduction right up to full volume, whilst also adding in the electronics and simultaneously giving the bass more thump. Once again, they manage to do this subtly, without giving us an obvious crescendo. True mastery in my eyes.

The pair enlist in the help of Canada’s Voytek Korab, for final track ‘Siscsid’. Driven by a mesmerisingly good bass line, this track is a fine way to end proceedings. Once again the producers effortlessly deliver an up-tempo cut sure to have dance floors bouncing right across Germany and further afield. As well as the excellent bassline, ominous vocals which muse on suspicion and a funky beat; the track is given its cherry on top by the intermittent swooshing noise in the background, which works sublimely when combined with the track’s other elements.

Alex Flatner & LOPAZZ have produced yet another work of art with this latest release. ‘Courtesy’ gives fans exactly what they want/expect when kicking things off, and though it could be accused of being slightly generic at times, it can be forgiven as the subtle composition keeps the listener engaged throughout. In ‘We’re No Good’ we have what I feel is the EP’s standout track. It ticks every box and stays in your head, long after the track has finished. Things are rounded up excellently by ‘Siscsid’. with the duo working alongside Voytek Korab, to stunning effect.

The ‘Courtesy’ EP is out now and I urge you to give it a listen; it will not disappoint. In addition, for those old school DJs out there, this EP even comes out on 12” vinyl form. Enjoy!

@Khonje9

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