Stil & Bense – Evidence [ICONYC]

Returning after a six week hiatus, John Johnson's ICONYC welcomes Stil & Bense to the label for their debut EP. Hailing from Osnabrück, the German duo have been pushing their unique brand of electronic music since 2013. A carefully managed discography has seen Stil & Bense notch releases on Blindfold Recordings, Posie Musik and WHATIPLAY. Now following a release on ZEHN Records to begin the year, the German duo make their much anticipated ICONYC debut with 'Evidence' alongside a remix from TH;EN.

A unique act from their inception Stil & Bense explore a fresh blend of styles on the title cut 'Evidence'. Groovy, emotive and quite playful in ethos, it's an amalgamation of disco and progressive house essentially. On a bed of spongy kicks and fluid bass comes distinctive stabs, billowing vocal fragments and an air for the dramatic. Warm swells initiate the main break where the narrative evolves through subtle modulation, clustered drums and a rising cinematic backdrop. Almost grandiose yet reserved enough for the more astute connoisseur, it's timeless appeal is undeniable and ultimately leads to a purring third act finale. The companion piece 'Milky Way' carries a similar ethos to 'Evidence' but with a bit more of a rugged quality. Again the emphasis on rhythm and groove is at a premium with a romping low end, effervescent stabs and a captivating arp carrying an energetic first act. The vocal elements are quite distinctive, almost urban feeling in a way, they add further depth and work wonders in building anticipation prior to a broken beat section and euphoric final act.

The lone interpretation of 'Evidence' is provided by ICONYC label artists TH;EN who return to the imprint following releases on Manual Music and Mango Alley. A recent lineup shuffle has seen Canadian artist Las Von being welcomed into the group alongside project founder Enzo. Perhaps not surprising given that their past collaborative efforts have achieved such critical and commercial success. For their 'Evidence' interpretation the cross continental duo have made great use of the primary themes for a mix that is bound by fluid rhythms and nostalgic motifs. TH;EN's keen sense of dance floor dynamics shine through here, with a robust groove anchoring waves of drum fills and those epic chord stabs from the original. Timely textures add just a touch more emotion, particularly during the main break, making for a memorable rendition to send people home with a smile. A superb remix from TH;EN who continue a strong start to 2019 while ICONYC returns in triumphant fashion with a release that is sure to find a home in a broad range of DJ sets. Highly recommended.

Buy: https://bit.ly/2Y2bFBN

Release Date: 18-03-2019

Release Promo: http://releasepromo.com

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