Raw, yet refined when he needs to be, this is an artist to expect things from; the unexpected.
It can be hard to stand out as a record label, nowadays more than ever. Some go for big names. Others for strong visuals. X -Kalay has gone another direction; little known artists on white labels, each 12” being identifiable only by a different coloured stamp. But as we know, it’s not about the look; it’s about the music.
And the music has been the talking point. With an impressive four releases in its year long existence, X-Kalay has already explored a wide scope of electronics. For its latest an artist turning heads has been called upon; Brazil’s Seixlack. Following releases for Bliq,777 and L.A. Club Resource, Fernando Seixlack builds on his past eclectic electronic excursions with Bed Bug Bites.
Four tracks are the offering. The opener would suggest a house record, one with a brutish and gritty aspect. Acidic and aggressive, “Taxes” is drenched in fuzz. Sounding almost too big for speakers the track has a more subtle side. Beneath the distortion and bitter bars lurks a sorrow, one which is forgotten in the future jazz funk of “Amolado.” The flip recalls the static of “Taxes,” “Wintergreen” is a hardy beat driven hammer, keys bending and groaning. Deeper notes return for the finale. Although “Sofazone” still has touches of being in the red, the warmer techno lines explored show a different side to this Brazilian’s sound.
Bed Bug Bites echoes some of Seixlack’s past releases. Not quite techno, his style leans more towards house but is far from straight-up. He is a musician who surprises, setting down familiar paths before bypassing and surpassing expectations. Raw, yet refined when he needs to be, this is an artist to expect things from; the unexpected.
Bed Bug Bites is available on X-Kalay.
