As house music in 2017 continues to mutate, fracture, and spread across the globe, Russia remains a hotbed of simultaneous innovation and reverence. Based in Moscow, Alexander Lay-Far (soundcloud) represents a growing faction of producers and DJs tapping into the wealth of dance music connecting dots from jazz, dub, funk, and everything in between from, quite literally, around the world. A&Ring the newest release from In-Beat-Ween Music, Lay-Far brings together geographically disparate, yet sonically coherent artists to create “Footwork House Jams #1”. Footwork House Jams started in 2010 as a small late night community, influenced by sound and visual aesthetics of 90’s house parties in New York and Chicago. Upon a first rinse, there’s no question Lay-Far nailed the local party feel filled with loose and seemingly off-the-cuff rhythms.
The A-side does not mess around as expected; kicking off with “Church Chords” by Karizma, a cacophony of cowbells and stuttering snares glide effortlessly under repeating organ stabs. It sways a bit like something out of a late 90’s uk-garage hit, but is so stark and structurally current that there’s no question it’s creator has an eye on both the past and the future. “Check Da Discotheque” by Nubian Mindz similarly mines conventions of Dance music’s yesteryear while simultaneously separating himself from the pack. Cut-up vocals and a jacking bassline recall Todd Edward’s revolutionary work, while toms, kicks, and hats run rampant throughout the low end.
[soundcloud url=”https://soundcloud.com/boltingbits/premiere-intr0beatz-feat-lay-far-that-dub”/]
Danny