Billka – Dark Sun [Movement Recordings]

Tash’s Movement Recordings rounds out the month of November by welcoming Billka back to the label for his debut EP. With a career that stretches the better part of two decades, Vasilis Karras aka Billka has more than etched his place in Greece’s electronic music underground. As a DJ he has performed all across the country, showcasing his unique taste and impeccable programming skills. Perhaps better known as a producer however, Billka has a discography which dates back to 2013 and is highlighted by releases via Mango Alley, Meanwhile and The Soundgarden, which have earned him support from Above & Beyond, Adriatique, Hernan Cattaneo, Nick Warren and Tale Of Us. Having made his Movement Recordings debut earlier this year with a contribution to the label’s ‘GLBLMVMT7’ Exploring Greece collection, Billka now returns for his first EP project ‘Dark Sun’, alongside remixes from Paul Angelo & Don Argento and Pedro Mercado & Karada.

Beginning with the prophetic sounds of 'Dark Sun', Billka aims squarely at the dancefloor with great success. A tough DJ friendly intro sets the pace for rolling basslines and precise percussive arrangements to create an energetic first act. A series of gated synth mutations and striking chord stabs serve as a prelude for a strong vocal narrative to emerge, one complete with soul and emotion, before the second of two breaks resets the mood through tension and anticipation for an otherworldly finale. The companion piece ‘Revival’ continues on a similar monochrome as silky vocals weave their way through misty atmospheres and pyrotechnic synths, before growling acid lines emerge for a devilish moment as the final break approaches. A trance-inducing topline furthers the storyboard as the interlude takes shape, carrying with it a meditative energy onwards to a dark engaging conclusion.

Returning to the label for the lone interpretation of ‘Dark Sun’ is Paul Angelo & Don Argento. With a career that spans the better part of a decade, Cyprus based duo Paul and Don have achieved measurable success, taking their melodic sound to influential imprints such as Clubsonica, Future Romance, Timeless Moment, UV, UV Noir and more. Movement Recordings has also been a frequent landing spot for the duo, with eleven appearances since making their debut in 2017. 2024 has seen Paul and Don choose their projects wisely with a standout remix of ‘Fractured Shadows’ by Aphasia (ofc) for Movement affiliate Astral Records. Now as the year winds to a close, Paul and Don find their way back to Movement with a heady take on ‘Dark Sun’. Landing with a refined approach, the duo find success with a minimal yet dancefloor minded framework. Punchy kick drums and chugging grooves marry beautifully with grainy percussion and meditative synths, resulting in a late night journey perfectly dialed for those darker dancefloor moments.

The release concludes with Pedro Mercado & Karada making their label debut with the lone interpretation of ‘Revival’. The Belgian duo have been frequent studio partners since making their debut in 2009 via Creamminal Records. Fast forward fifteen years and the beloved duo have racked up well over two hundred production credits, taken their cross-genre style to long-standing imprints in Natura Viva, Parquet, One Of A Kind and Proton's Particles. Now, adding Movement Recordings to their resume Pedro Mercado & Karada debut on the label with a powerful rendition of ‘Revival’. Bringing a retro club-effective state of mind, the duo reassembles the themes from the original for their own unique approach. Reprocessed vocals and fragmented synths co-ax perfectly atop thunderous kick drums and chugging grooves, for what results in a cosmically correct rendition to round out the release in style.

Buy: https://tinyurl.com/5czpy8sz

Release Date: 22-11-2023

Release Promo: http://releasepromo.com

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