Feel the Drive take us on a colourful road trip with new label project
The debut four-tracker pulls together an ensemble cast of dusty fingered edit alchemists
Committed party starters and NTS Radio regulars Feel the Drive push the pedal to the metal on the next leg of their logical musical progression, with this, their first outing as a record label.
The brains behind the operation, Szymek Lawik and Martin Lefteri have curated a no-nonsense ensemble line-up that represents a fitting embodiment of their colourful sound. Incorporating a massive dose of Italo gold washed down with a twist of new beat and electronic body music, their debut offering offers much to enjoy and signals their vinyl arrival in suitable style. The EP races out of the grid with Berlin-based Italian producer Franz Scala's 'Sabrina'. A veteran of ultra credible labels Bordello a Parigi, Tusk Wax and Bahnsteig 23 among others, Franz serves up a bass-propelled groove which provides the bed as energetic horn stabs, guitar licks and kitsch 'sexy girl' vocals rise and fall over an engaging, floor-friendly arrangement.
Next, we're transported to mysterious foreign lands by Athenian producer Aggelos Baltas under his Anatolian Weapons guise. The downtempo chug, dextrous instrumentation and seductive eastern melodies of 'Ela' hypnotise us into some kind of transcendent fog, as subtle acid bubbles and voices wail in the shadowy distance. We're then treated to a lively soundtrack to a boxercise class or in-rave / at-home workout on Furor Exotica's aptly titled 'Fat Training'. The sultry 'work it' vocal assumes the role of personal trainer as the intoxicating arps, stabs and hooky synth work builds to a sweat-inducing frenzy. The clubs are just about open here in Bangkok, we road-tested this one last night and can confirm it does serious dance-floor damage.
Finishing things off, new label bosses Szymek and Martin get together in the lab as production outfit Ondata to bring us 'Kolossos'. Probably the most stripped-back and experimental sounding track on the record, the pulsing bass sits deep under sparse drums, as robotic voices and delay feedbacks echo in the distance. The groove builds as fierce staccato hits increase the energy, endowing the track with a dark but subtle industrial feel.
By putting together this hugely enjoyable collection Feel The Drive show their digging credentials are matched by a skillful sense of curation. We're hopeful that this will be the beginning of a long and joyful road trip for the bright young label.
Feel the Drive is out on September 11, you can listen and buy it here
