- One of the most common misperceptions about the artists from the Nation and Crème Jak labels is that they merely peddle in approximations of classic Chicago acid trax. D'Marc Cantu's latest release for Crème Jak shows just what a lazy inaccuracy this is. Like Traxx and JTC—the latter producer provides the only bona fide 303 workout with the crashing snares, cascading drums and evil acid lines of his remix of "No Control"—D'Cantu's tracks draw from unexpected sources.
They may be grounded in Chicago's heritage, as the dank drums and soaring acid lines of this EP's title track demonstrates, but the low-slung bassline that unfolds is pure 80s industrial/body music. On a totally different tact is "The Lights Brighter," a composition that is so melodically fragile and rhythmically brittle that it straddles a fine line between Heard-esque emotion and Weinberg-inspired introspection.
"Hungry for People" shifts the goalposts further: Over another bass-heavy arrangement and chilling strings, D'Cantu soundtracks a conversation between a ponderous male and his more high-pitched, excitable female companion. It's left open to the listener's interpretation how this relationship plays out, but it would be safe to say that they won't be sending each other Valentine's cards.
Tracklist A1 Another Number
A2 No Control (JTC remix)
B1 Hungry For People
B2 The Lights Brighter
B3 DMC