RELEASE: Light the Shades
ARTIST(S): Rafa’EL
REMIXERS: Imran Khan, Jorge Viana
LABEL:
GENRE:
RELEASED: 2022-07-29
AVAILABLE FORMAT: 912Kbps/LOSSLESS
DOWNLOAD SIZE: 207.92 MB
TOTAL TRACKS 4
- Rafa’EL – Light the Shades (07:00) key, bpm120
- Rafa’EL – Overload (06:58) key, bpm122
- Rafa’EL – Light the Shades (Imran Khan Remix) (08:24) key, bpm122
- Rafa’EL – Overload (Jorge Viana Remix) (08:00) key, bpm122
Total Playtime: 00:30:22 min
A familiar name within the underground house fraternity, Rafal Ligienza has been at the vanguard of his country’s music scene through his Rafa’EL moniker. Operating out of his Wysoka home in north central Poland, Rafa’EL has been developing his innovative sound for nearly 15 years.
Making his debut on Usessions Records in 2013, the Polish star has subsequently been a regular on Particles, centred around a pair of original EPs in 2015’s “Twin Flames” and 2019’s “Floating Moments”. Remixes for Rauschhaus, Mariner + Domingo and Juan Deminicis have shone a light on another side of Rafa’EL’s production talent as he now returns with “Light the Shades”. The title track flows with deliciously rolling groove and clicking percussive top line as a melancholic piano progression adds gravitas. Evolving with ease, a sultry synth line makes its intermittent presence felt, while a stripped back breakdown provides the perfect vehicle for melodic elements and spoken vocal sample to shine before a twinkling arpeggio opens up a moment of magic in the second half. “Overload” immediately hits hard with its strong beat and chunky rhythm, while a deep bassline and muted synth stabs play in syncopated fashion. Arpeggio and growling analogue synth add to the sonic collage as a symphony of melodic components converge in counterpoint heaven, culminating in a gated reverse sequence that heralds a drop for rhythm and groove to showcase dancefloor prowess in the latter stages.
Finding a home on Proton Music with such memorable outings as 2019’s “Organik” and “Sunsweat” EPs, Imran Khan has also created a strong sonic identity on Particles with 2018’s “Arrival”, plus a clutch of remixes for the likes of Kamilo Sanclemente, Savvas and Chihaka, in February 2022. Returning to Particles, the Imran Khan remix brings a trademark depth to his reworking of “Light the Shadows”. Enveloped in powerful rhythmic heft, a growling bassline and breathy effects pave the way for elements from the original to forge a new path, away from the melancholy of Rafa’EL’s work, creating a tension-filled offering that revels in white-noise effects and hypnotic groove. Allowing the emotive keys and pads from “Light the Shadows” to shine during the breakdown, Imran Khan brings them sharply into focus alongside his deep groove-oriented and dynamically rhythmic offering.
An artist with over a century of production credits to his name, dating back to a 2018 debut for 3xA Music, Jorge Viana has continued to make a name for himself with music signed to the likes of Mango Alley, Freegrant Music and Dopamine White. From Rosario in the Sante Fe province, Jorge Viana continues to impress during a relatively short career thus far. Now the Argentinean artist makes his debut with an intricate rhythmic backdrop that captures listener interest through imaginative use of the central melodic found in “Overload”. Creating a new central motif, familiar elements wax and wane with throughout the complex percussive backdrop. A powerful effects-fuelled breakdown opens up a new direction before melodic fragments filter into range in a glitched and dramatic zenith.
Directed by Jay Epoch
AandR by Marina Gerardi
Mastered by Cid Inc.
Design by Ben Mautner
Text by James Warren//
