fabric presents Octo Octa & Eris Drew

Resenha do Álbum

Both individually and as a duo, Octo Octa and Eris Drew had become two of clubland's most acclaimed DJs by the end of the 2010s, thanks to their euphoric sets which affirm the dancefloor as a place for healing and spiritual enlightenment. After delivering solo mixes on their T4T LUV NRG label and launching a joint residency on BBC Radio 1, their first commercially issued mix together appeared in late 2020 as part of London institution Fabric's ongoing series. Recorded in the pair's remote cabin in New Hampshire, the all-vinyl set draws from the extensive history of rave music, connecting the dots between house, techno, hardcore, and garage while focusing strictly on uplifting vibes. The duo effortlessly zip between deep obscurities from the '90s (with Orbital's extremely scarce remix of Global Method's Inner City-sampling "Good Life" being a definite highlight) and newer tracks which could easily be mistaken for them, such as 515 Connection's electro breakbeat workout "Positive & Negative" or Y U QT's dead-on speed garage flashback "Fort Wibbler," complete with time-stretched vocals and radioactive bass. Other high points include X-Press 2's celebratory "Say What! (London Underground Mix)," laced with Afrobeat-inspired horns and loudly clanging bells; the unmistakable rave ecstasy of the Two Amigos' piano-driven "Everybody Get Up (Vocal Mix);" and the Love Parade trance of Dr. Motte & WestBam's "Sunshine." The DJs each contribute an original production. Octo Octa's "River" is appropriately titled for a track which flows between acid and breaks, going with the current rather than building to a definite peak. Eris Drew's vocals and electro boom-tics give "Reactiv-8" a bit more of a synth pop flavor than her usual, breakbeat-heavy output, with robotic voices, slick acoustic guitars, and levitating bass figuring into the mix. As revealed by the unmixed tracks included with the digital release, the duo pitch many of the records up in order to ensure that the energy level remains at a constant high. It's impossible not to envision the two of them constantly rocking out to the music and embracing each other the way they do during their club sets. Even without an audience, the pair channel the communal spirit of raves, demonstrating that the right tracks and the right energy can be equally transportive outside of a club setting.
© Paul Simpson /TiVo