Napalm & d-phrag - Turmoil EP [SMD178]

Collaborative pairings are commonplace in the world of dance music and few are more deserving of attention within the underground scene than the combined output of Napalm & d-phrag. As the pair come together once more, Suffused Music is delighted to announce the release of their highly charged, “Turmoil EP”.

Joining forces from their homes in Hungary and Bulgaria, Pál Nánai and Ivan Filipov have been involved in the music industry for several years, creating a sizeable niche for themselves with their unique brand of techno and progressive house under their Napalm & d-phrag production monikers. With Napalm took a creative path that has centred primarily on the techniques of music production, eschewing the more traditional route as a DJ, d-phrag found himself heavily influenced by the iconic Global Underground mix series and Pete Tong’s BBC Radio 1 “Essential Mix”, before reaching a critical mass himself through his monthly “Immersed” show on Frisky Radio.

First working together as a collaborative, creative force, Napalm & d-phrag hit the headlines with a debut for LuPS Records in 2012 with the “43” EP. Since then a galaxy of production credits has hit a plethora of high-calibre underground imprints. Indeed, the Balkan Connection family of labels have been responsible for almost a century of these credits with a striking collection of original and remix material, including January 2017’s “Inner Fierce” EP for BC2. Further releases for the likes of Stellar Fountain, Mistique Music and OLD SQL have continued to highlight the duo’s sound, supported by the DJ elite including Aeron Aether, East Café and iconic Argentinean superstar, Hernan Cattaneo.

The electronica sounds of twin-track, “You Give Me Strength” EP, hit Suffused Polarities in December 2015, while a remix of DJ Borra & Britt, for Suffused Music in June 2014, is now joined by a very welcome debut original EP in the shape of “Turmoil”. Opening with the aptly named, “Heavy”, a huge kick and low-lung house groove combine with a throbbing bass line that pulses in time with the seismic kick drum. Building hypnotically, a glistening lead line is juxtaposed against the lower frequencies, pausing in a stripped back breakdown that sees an elegant melody evolve before the undulating bass line and syncopated rhythms dominate once more in the second half.

The title track itself is a lighter affair with a scintillating lead line of middle eastern flavour, rippling across the upper frequency spectrum in stirring fashion. Combined with a strong four-to-the-floor rhythmic foundation and dynamic shaker-driven percussive cadence, the mid-point breakdown sees the evolution of the central melody in emotive manner, combined with a striking bass groove. Hitting its stride again in the third movement with a combination of intricately programmed rhythm and melody, “Turmoil” maintains dance-floor intrigue.

A pair of new tracks from Napalm & d-phrag have illustrated perfect clarity and purpose within their “Turmoil”.

Napalm & d-phrag - Heavy [Suffused Music]

Napalm & d-phrag - Turmoil [Suffused Music]

Text by James Warren

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