Hector & Bryant – Tension

DJs/producers themselves – one such is Hector Murillo, who last year released his debut 12″, ‘La Raza’, for Dinky’s Horizontal imprint. Fittingly, it’s Hector teaming up with Bryant who are behind the Phonica label’s first offering. The aptly named “Tension” is a masterclass in suspense and hypnosis; a sleek, brooding techno cut which doesn’t so much attack the danceflooor as enfold it. It simply builds and builds, scooping the listener up on a wave of dubbed-out chords and intertwined synth melodies, under and over-scored with taut drum edits, a rolling bassline and strings which hang like mountain mist. On remix duty is Appleblim – the Skull Disco co-founder and Apple Pips boss who has made the space where dubstep, house and techno overlap his own – in partnership with Al Tourettes. Typically unconstrained by genre expectations, the duo sculpt an epic, adventurous re-version of ‘Tension’. Propelled at first by a galloping steppa’s rhythm and analogue bass stabs, soon echo-drenched vocal samples and deep dub flavours take hold, before the track climaxes in heads-down, thrillingly linear four-to-the-floor style. Phonica has inaugurated its label with a 12″ of depth, energy and innovation, lovingly crafted for forward-thinking dancefloors around the globe. Enjoy.