Corrosive 303 bars are bubbled and boiled, reduced and simmered into a scorching syrup, one spiced even further by punishing percussion and a decent dollop of decay.
Jeroen Warmenhoven is perhaps one of the lesser known disciples of the West Coast of the Netherlands, but he’s undeniably one of the most respected. His approach to electronic music is ambidextrous. Techno. House. Acid. Disco tinted synth. Although the Dutchman’s hand has been turned to all, his go to sound has to be electro under the toughened appellation of DJ Overdose.
Curiously, it isn’t cold cuts of machine music that Warmenhoven has delivered to Belfast’s Computer Controlled. Instead the road taken is one laid down by labels like Dance Mania, a speeding, beat hammering, sample drenched EP is the offering. The issue is “that sample”, it’s the same one across three tracks. “Blue Flame” squirms, wriggles and writhes. Rhythms are nosebleed fast, acid squelch and melodic synths melting as vocal cuts loops. “Work is Work” follows, does “that sample.” The track shares the same racing rhythms as its sibling but searches out softer grooves. And there “it” is, again, on the flip for a stripped down bonus track cut for the more scratch minded. “Acid Lovely” is the stand out piece. Corrosive 303 bars are bubbled and boiled, reduced and simmered into a scorching syrup, one spiced even further by punishing percussion and a decent dollop of decay.
Don’t Get Burned has been conceived in the DJ Deeon and DJ Slugo tradition, fast, bumping, pock marked with sliced lyrics. But the sample seam running through this 12” becomes too much. Three quarters of the EP is tarred with the same brush, more interesting touches drowned out by an unwanted, and very verbal, party guest. There’s Overdose, and there’s overkill.
Don’t Get Burned is available on Computer Controlled.
