“New style” record label and publisher of cutting-edge house & indie dance, Sinnmusik, has introduced another promising talent in the shape of Washington DC resident, Fasika.
Said to be charmed by the likes of Erick Morillo and Kerri Chandler, Fasika is a fairly mysterious character online, with precious little in the way of information available about the man behind the alter ego. But, with his debut EP, ‘Warp’, he lets his music tell you pretty much everything you need to know: ‘Warp’ is a compelling blend of heady percussion, symbolic keys, stabs and heavy low-end grooves.
Kicking things off, the title track develops gently, but with a resounding character that carries with it a dominant buzz, set off by brash hats and a crunching clap. Deep sweeps, additive bass tones and an ominous motif work in unison to manufacture an intense and vibrant soundscape with plenty of rhythm, typifying Fasika’s apparent flair for filling dancefloors effortlessly.
With ‘Circles’, he allows the sound to frolic into a slightly more jovial groove, balanced with neat and tidy vocal cuts and a variety synth lines that dart around over a hefty yet diverse bass line. Shrewd sequencing thickens and thins the mix in a timely manner, with flourishes of additional percussion that work perfectly to uphold an opulent and spirited intensity in his music.
‘June Bug’ hustles with a long-tailed and thrilling build-up that gains momentum under a compelling melody. Handled deftly throughout, it progresses towards cleverly contrived climbs and falls, complete with iridescent synths, inundated in reverb, splashed over a relentless groove that magnifies the sound immensely.
‘Kidu’s Jam’ sends a wrecking ball into the collection as a jagged-edged synth attack wraps itself fiercely around a beating clap, eerie curtailed vocals and winding string sweeps. In typical fashion, low-end frequencies dip in and out, keeping things held firmly on the dancefloor.
Bringing the EP to a dramatic close is ‘Raw’, which fuses together key stabs, canny sampling and energetic kick drums in what appears to be a characteristic process. Bongo grooves and biting percussive riffles create a swinging rhythm, putting the final touch on a cohesive collection of prime-time house cuts that showcases a promising start for Fasika. Check out the EP below…
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