With Rebel Rave 2, Crosstown Rebels presents its annual calling card: two discs filled with a cross section of the imprints finest cuts and b-sides. On disc three L.A.’s collective Droog take you on a journey through this year’s label catalogue.
With 20+ releases (including albums by Maceo Plex, Deniz Kurtel and Art Department), 2011 is a prolific year for the label culminating in the release of Rebel Rave 2. The first two discs line up most of this year’s releases (including two from sublabel Rebellion) and one exclusive: Art Department remixing Jamie Jones’ Paradise. To get an impression of the label’s accessible yet distinctive underground sound, check out James What's About Love and Still in My Heart by The Model. Expect plenty of fat bass lines, treated vocals and weirdo melodies sprinkled with the occasional acid drop or electro chord.
The promo we received for this review (disc 3) presents a label mix by L.A.’s collective Droog (Culprit). Famous for hosting rooftop parties at L.A.’s Standard Hotel (inviting many of Crosstown Rebels' label roster), the trio offer a seamless trip through the imprint's vibrant and at times hypnotic sound. After the start of proceedings by Deniz Kurtel and Art Department, the sweeping bass line of Your Style by Maceo Plex and the bleepy Radar by Riz MC build the tension nicely. However it’s the next few tracks which really get my feet off the floor: Russ Yallop’s I Can’t Wait and Crossroads with its evocative house vocals followed by one of this year’s standout tracks: Art Department’s We Call Love.
Samples of Carl Craig’s At Les in Space Jam by Jimmy Maheras bring the mix in deeper, melodic territory. The menacing bassline of Westbound by Inxec and Droog, followed by the Balearic melody of Positive Expresssion by Subb-An, hurl the listener even further into space. Tracks from Quenum and Martin Dawson & Glimpse bring the mix to a suitable hypnotic end.
Based on personal taste I prefer the weirdness and bass lines of the first part. But on the whole, the cleverly constructed mix forms a fitting representation of the label’s sound.
8/10
Patrice Knap
