Fresh off of a European tour with Juke Bounce Werk mainstays Kush Jones and Swisha, Bronx native DJ & producer Bassbear (Reynaldo Hernandez) aligns with Loveless Records’ Club Music focused sublabel Materia for his first official solo release. With 5 originals, “Under Pressure EP” is a beautiful demonstration of finely-tuned club music from a producer who is 1/2 of Club/Grime/Footwork hybrid outfit OSOBLANCO with fellow Bronx native EL BLANCO NINO and a frequently collaborator with fellow Bronx producers Los, Scatta, & Bojaq.
With no time for delicate intros, Bassbear kicks off right away with an ominous low-end club track “Step Child,” featuring perfectly complimentary vocals from Queens rapper & poet GETOVERHER. Following is the Swisha collaboration “Dancefloor Jam,” featuring addictive elements of UK Funky and classic UK Rave stabs built into a traditional US club track. Middle track “Speed Limit” can’t sit still with a menagerie of rhythmic Club patterns topped with iconic Grime clicks and snares. “Perfect Dance” and “Grease Mode” call upon a 90s club aesthetic for deceptively simple DJ tools while the latter invokes Ballroom vocals.
For a bonus, Sweaty Equity bossman JX Cannon (and first MATERIA artist) flips “Dancefloor Jam” into a dark, tribal meditation with hints of French Electro synth work. Long term Loveless Records affiliate Kala concludes the EP with a half-time UK version of “Perfect Dance”
“Under Pressure” by Bassbear will be available on Friday, October 13th through all digital stores and streaming services.