V/A - "PSY SECTION: THE VERY FIRST REAL MAGIC" 12"

PSY SECTION:
The first release of Escape Artist’s new imprint is a various artists affair brought together by the power of friendship. After years of being sent amazing music by new and old friends from near and afar, the time has come to share this joy with the rest of the world. As a label, we will seek to shine a light on psychedelic music of all designs and the first release will focus on the dance variety. It is the label’s hope that the love and friendship that brought this project together will shine through in the music.

Side A opens with cris. p’s ‘Lemon’, a mid-tempo breakbeat roller that epitomises the ideal qualities of a track found in an opening set. Playful acid notes and indecipherable spoken work glisten against a backdrop of thumping kicks and warm sub bass. Grim Beazley’s ‘Acid Leaf’ evokes a memory of crowded peak time floors. The song’s gentle introduction gives way to powerful 303/909 interplay and leaves us yearning to go back to that place.

Hex Editor’s transcendental breakbeat dreamscape ‘Tuesday’ opens the B side with expert precision. Soaring pads and swimming arpeggios provide the perfect spot for the listener to land after their flight from the previous side. Escape Artist & cris. p’s ‘People Division’ rounds out the release. A kaleidoscopic downtempo introduction leads to a groove punctuated with intricate polyrhythmic basslines. Produced during lockdown, this piece is an attempt to sonically manifest our collective desire to return to the dancefloor.