Decal - Lo Lite (Ultramack)

Decal kept popping onto the decks last year as ones-to-watch with releases both on the Language and Leaf labels. Having supported such big-beat big-names as the Chemical Brothers and Leftfield, this duo are at the forefront of the rapidly expanding Dublin elecronica scene. As you'd expect, this is a ruffed-up album of blunted beats, but has an urban air and an accomplished calm that sets it apart from the plethora of other such 'bands' that are currently apperaring.

Various areas of beat and bass are actually explored here. 'Self Storage' and 'Snakehips' are relentless (but varied) big beat epics. 'Malk' and 'Pigeyes Gets Whacked' on the other hand are pure nineties-style electro. Decal also attempt some BPM variation with a couple of slower tracks, one of which works ('Zerostar'), the other of which ('Camoflage') doesn't.

Finally, with the album in its closing stages, some good old fashioned atmosphere is added to the scathing near-industrial beats. Something which is sadly lacking in much big beat and a major chunk of this LP. So thank goodness for 'Phunk City' and the album's finale, the freaky 'Iona'. 7/10


This review also published in: DJ magazine