- Four cuts of retro-tinged house.
- Paul Dickow can make beautiful ambient music, pitch-perfect dub and thought-provoking experimental tracks, usually among the best in their field. Future Shock, his latest EP and debut on Chrissy's Nite Owl Diner label, reminds us that he can also rock a dance floor. The EP's title, Future Shock, is deceiving, as the Portland producer delivers four nuggets of vintage house, each zeroing in on a different sound.
The choice cut is "Forgotten Encounter," a track that combines chopped-up Amen breaks, old-school chord progressions and a UK garage skip. It sounds like deep house with rave influences. The title track isn't far behind, with an insistent descending bassline atop slippery drums, finished off with an 8-bit melody. Both tunes are playful takes on retro-minded house, as if Dickow reconstructed old records from memory. There's a similar feeling to "Monsterzellos," which sounds like a roughed-up Strictly Rhythm record. "Looks Beautiful From Here" is the most direct homage to early '90s rave. It has the least to say but it suits an EP that's all about fun.
TracklistA1 Future Shock
A2 Forgotten Encounter
B1 Looks Beautiful From Here
B2 Monsterzellos