Pig & Dan // Emotions / Let The Show Begin [Bedrock Records]
Pig and Dan have been practically inescapable in the last few months, so it’s just as well that their music is of such phenomenal quality that few would ever want to get away from them. Coming hot on the heels of their superb album ‘Decade’ on Soma – and two remix EPs on that label – they have this double A release on Bedrock, the label with which they released notable tracks earlier this year.
Emotions is built around a lovely warm fuzz of a bassline with beautiful, celestial pads tugging on the heart strings and justifying the title of the track. Some powerful, contrasting snare rolls appear to pack even more of a punch at crucial times, and there’s lots of space in the main breakdown when it arrives – then, when the track resumes, it heads towards the finish line on the back of a small army of lovely arpeggios. My only minor complaint is the spoken word vocal which makes the odd appearance throughout the track, I don’t really feel it adds anything to it – but I do put much emphasis on the word ‘minor’.
Next up is Let The Show Begin, a much more pumping and relentless number. It features well used vocal samples from a live Jim Morrison diatribe on astrology, and is an insidious groove, with a superb mix of effects – some harsh, some subtle – adding a wonderful rising momentum as the track progresses. It is yet another Pig and Dan success story.
My worry with producers that are so prolific can sometimes be uncertainty over whether they truly give everything to every track, I fear that they may spread their ideas around too much and therefore dilute the quality of their productions. This cannot be said of Pig and Dan – some of the wonderful tricks and flourishes that are practically thrown away on both of these tracks would be used as building blocks and essential elements to other producers. They clearly have ideas to spare, and barely put a foot wrong on this release, which features two very different tracks.
To say that they are in a rich vein of form at the moment would be an understatement – long may it continue.
Release Date: Out Now
Words: Stevie Reid
