Resteed – Lost Cities [Refraction Records]

Pedro Capelossi's Refraction Records opens the new year by welcoming Resteed to the label for his debut EP. Brazilian artist Everton Muller aka Resteed has travelled a less than conventional path since his first release in 2018. With a discography that features big room and melodic house & techno through to progressive, deep and organic house, Resteed would have to be considered one of Brazil's most versatile emerging talents. Key projects via Crossfade Sounds and RYNTH have been instrumental in showcasing the deeper side of his repertoire, ultimately leading to his Refraction debut 'Lost Cities', alongside remixes from Dust Yard, Amarno and Pedro Capelossi & Aeikus.

The deep enchanting vibes of 'Urban Dreams' sets the pace for Resteed's sprawling 'Lost Cities' collection. Muted kick drums and precise percussive arrangements lay the foundation for deconstructed vocals and gloriously textured overlays to paint a bucolic storyboard, while infinite delays and blurred reverberations deliver a hazy soundscape throughout. Selection two 'Urban Grooves' lands with decidedly more dancefloor vigor, as Resteed flexes his groove crafting prowess across the seven minute piece. Mystical vocal fragments and wonky effects highlight a misty top line, continually evolving as woody beats and panned percussion create a club energy that is both confident and unpredictable. The third and final selection 'Urban Vibes' arrives in dimly lit fashion with ghostly vocal refrains and dubbed out tones creating a melancholic mood early on. Carrying this mesmerizing hypnotism forward, Resteed's masterstroke is to melt the proceedings down into a cavernous break, one where panning vocals and textural drifts eventually give way to a finale of meandering musical co-actions.

Making his label debut with the lone interpretation of 'Urban Dreams' is Dust Yard. Hailing from France, Dust Yard has been a fixture of the electronic underground for the better part of a decade. On the strength of early projects via 238W, the French artist found his footing in the progressive scene early on, with a string of successful projects across the next two years. An evolution in sound would see Dust Yard establish a deeper, more refined approach to his craft, one that was equal parts groovy, timeless and club effective, in turn yielding releases via Simple Things, Symbiotical, MixCult and Bondage Music, the latter of which has become his primary home. Now, getting 2025 underway in style, Dust Yard adds Refraction Records to his resume with a powerful rendition of 'Urban Dreams'. Aptly coined 'Break' Mix, the French artist re-imagines the track with an energetic underbelly of rebounding breakbeats and sharp percussion, while a canopy of hazy atmospherics and tonal cascades balance out what is a perfect loud/soft production dynamic.

The lone interpretation of 'Urban Grooves' is provided by Amarno who also makes his label debut. Although just two years into his production career, Portuguese artist Amarno has achieved measurable success. Colour In Music, Magna, Microdrive and My Little Dog would serve as vehicles for the Lisbon's resident's resonant worldly sound early on. The next two calendar years would see Amarno go on a creative swell, recording key projects for Armen Miran's Hoomidaas and Pablo Bolivar's Seven Villas, releases which would firmly establish himself with the deep and dub realms of house and techno. With a remix for Fiordland and Nordic Voyage closing out an impressive 2024, Amarno continues on an upwards trajectory to begin the new year, making his Refraction Records debut with a stunning rework of 'Urban Grooves'. Taking a more direct dancefloor approach, Amarno beefs up the framework with plush kick drums, warm rhythmic pulses and dynamic claps. Hypnotic and energetic in equal measure, it's an evolving vocal narrative which delights across the break, tastefully creating a wall of retro-radiance, as effects melt down into a chugging groove-centric conclusion.

The release concludes with Pedro Capelossi & Aeikus combining their extensive forces for the lone interpretation of 'Urban Vibes'. Based in Spain and Brazil respectively, Pedro and Aeikus have been paired as occasional studio partners since 2021. The cross-continental duo have been a collaborative force ever since, recording projects for Modern Architect, Secret Jams Records and most notably Pedro's Refraction imprint, where the duo released a four-track showcase in August of last year. Highlighted by the glacial dub soundscapes of the title selection 'Red Shift', the EP proved to be the pair's most far-reaching work to date, setting the course for their first Refraction remix project, as they put their own unique twist on 'Urban Vibes'. Clocking in at eight magical minutes, the duo masterfully synthesize their talents for what results in a timeless warehouse style workout for the ages. Thunderous beats and hypnagogic grooves provide the anchor for granular stabs, wispy vocal fragments and alluring percussive rides to generate momentum across the first act. Orbiting effects and tension-inducing noise unite for an otherworldly interlude, perfectly forecasting a prophetic final movement to wrap up the release in far-reaching fashion.

Buy: https://tinyurl.com/27w57ry6

Release Date: 24-01-2025

Release Promo: http://releasepromo.com

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