Session Victim’s The Disconnect is a reminder of why the duo remain one of the most quietly essential forces in contemporary house music. Coming hot on the heels of their sprawling three‑part opus Sidequests, this five‑track EP feels like a focused counterpunch — tighter, moodier, and steeped in the collaborative spirit that has long defined their catalogue. With Kenneth Scott, Rossano Snel and Quarion joining the fold, the record becomes a conversation between artists who understand groove not as a formula, but as a living organism.
“Hey, Activate!” sets the tone with a slinky, funk‑driven opener built on ambient pads, a rubbery bassline and those unmistakable Session Victim synth noodles. It’s confident, playful, and quietly intricate — the kind of track that rewards both the dancefloor and the deep listener. “Dream Theory” drifts into more cinematic territory, its distant sax phrases and tremolo motifs weaving around a gorgeous piano‑and‑bass interplay. It’s dreamy without being soft, textured without being cluttered. “Flotsam” is a standout, channelling the incidental sampling and dusty breaks of Herbert while nodding to the filtered warmth of early Cassius. It’s a clever fusion: nostalgic yet unmistakably modern. “Open Minds” leans into soul‑leaning instrumentation — bongos, muted guitars, Rhodes — creating a mellow, lived‑in groove. “Loom,” with its Bonobo‑esque shimmer, closes the EP in reflective fashion, tying together the organic and electronic threads that run throughout.
What makes The Disconnect special is its emotional clarity. Even at their most precise, Session Victim never lose the human pulse at the centre of their music. Forty EPs in, they’re still refining, still exploring, still delivering house music with heart. In a crowded landscape, this record stands tall — warm, meticulous, and unmistakably theirs.
