Gonga

VINYL FORMAT. Inspired by Planet Mu's recent spate of footwork and mutant footwork releases, Ital Tek makes a massive shift on the Gonga EP, leaving the current '90s-inspired retro house fad far behind. The title track is a powerful opener, rolling out weird, syncopated tabla-style drums over tough, dancehall-style rolling kicks and rising clavs, building up a huge, vertiginous rush of ascending synth lines that leaves the listener breathless. "Pixel Haze" summons a swelling sea of 8-bit synth and lush melodies over which footwork kicks and basslines roll.

The colder, darker "Cobalt" features pumping kick drum reminiscent of technoid drum 'n' bass, employing dubstep's elegant spaces, a swelling metallic sound and 808 drums for a dark and oppressive feeling. µ-Ziq's take on "Gonga" is more minimal than the original, throwing in odd syncopations, diva vocals and jungle-inspired drums, layering rhythms in syncopated patterns over the pitchedup tabla sound of the original.