Top track: ‘Chic Miniature EP’

Top track: ‘Chic Miniature EP’

Chic Miniature [Crosstown Rebels]

15 July, 2008 | 3.04PM

• Written by: Ben Raven
• Filed under: Music Recommendations: chic miniature, crosstown rebels

Shockwaves reverberated around the techno and underground house world last autumn when news that Crosstown Rebels was going into liquidation spread like wildfire.

Well, oka, so there weren’t really any shockwaves, and nothing actually caught fire, but it was an unnerving development for the industry and underground fans alike.

Since its inception in 2003 Damian Lazarus’ forward thinking label has represented the cutting edge of UK electronic music on par with other scene-leading labels like Minus, Get Physical or Playhouse.

When its second distributor in as many months bit the dirt it appeared to take the north London-based imprint with it.

Losing a key talisman in Crosstown provided a pinch felt across the UK by underground aficionados.

But all is not lost, and the Rebels are riding once again.

Crosstown Rebels number 42, the self-titled ‘Chic Miniature EP’ is a strong return to form and an interesting update to the Crosstown sound.

All three tracks are deep but hooky tech house tracks twisted with that trademark Crosstown penchant for strange and unnerving electonica.

‘Kimono’ is our pick of the bunch—a tense, emotive slice of deep tech house lead by a melancholic synth line that breaks into one of this summer’s most vital hooks.

Lead track ‘Escandalo’ isn’t far behind teasing a jazzy set of keys across a super funky, live-sounding bassline and guitar and horn arrangement.

‘Chanchita’ charts much eerier territory with warped vocals and strange synth lines.

Sigh a breath of relief for the return of Crosstown then, and make this excellent EP a part of your life.

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