REVIEW: ROMANTIC THRILLS

Berlin, home of many talented electronic music producing boys and girls, is also home of Oliver Koletzki's "Stil Vor Talent" label which has been going strong for over six years. And you needn't guess for long where the debut album (and 68th installment of the label) of Niconé and Sascha Braemer was brought to life. Both are Berlin based DJ/producers and have been active on other labels such as Bar25 (also from Berlin) and Dirtybird (San Fransisco).

And exactly Bar25 is what comes to my mind when listening to Romantic Thills. The celebration of life by dancing and listening to music. It is all there: the uplifting guitar- and piano loops, joyous vocals and contagious rhythms.

Listen to “Run Away feat. Jan Blomqvist“, “Caje feat. Narra” and “Not The End feat. Narra” and feel what I mean. Now check Matt John (Hello Again) and Nu (Who loves the sun). It brings the same big smile on my face whilst my hips sway uncontrollably.

Of course there is room enough to go deeper as my personal favorite “Dreamer” takes me to that place where it's best to close your eyes and drift far far away. A warm buzzing bassline, hypnotic piano loop and vocals to be jealous of. “Liar” brings out the full on madness of partying on and on without thinking about tomorrow (and the days after). Perhaps a small hint towards the endlessly running Bar25 afterparties, the shuffle beat, fun fair bleeps and a clubber with a tad bit too much happy snow up his nostrils makes it weird enough to be really cool.

The closing track “Thänk You” sums it up nicely; “Thank you for dancing, thank you for your smile, thank you for laughing and I say thank you and goodbye”. I say thank you for making this happen and I hope for more to come.

8/10 - Martijn Smit