Andy Rantzen – Blue Hour Vol II

«Since Efficient Space excavated Andy Rantzen’s mind-bending ‘Will I Dream’, the rest of the world has become better acquainted with the darker & dubbier side of one of Australia’s rave superstars. We’re excited to present a selection of tracks from Andy’s incredibly diverse oeuvre, 6 songs that sit somewhere between 80s digital reggae, 90s rave and the horizon of our accelerating future. 

«Lifting the Veil» speeds up snappy drum programming and a thundering bassline to breakneck speeds, pitting them against sombre chords and strings, perfectly capturing the reflective headspace of a night drive through babylon. ‘Cosmic Vibrations’ harks back to the development of fully computerised rhythms emanating from Jammy and Tubby’s Waterhouse studios, by way of Erskineville. In the same vein, ‘Bedtime for Boo Boo’ sees Andy joined on the boards by Sydney dub technician Sheriff Lindo, creating a dynamic digi-dub number that is sure to come alive on any soundsystem worth its weight — a heady showcase for two of Australia’s finest reggae talents.

Flip the disc to find ‘Move It’, the most concentrated dose of the jungle vibes that permeate the EP. Rantzen channels the headrush sonics, breakneck drums and euphoria of D’n’B’s heydey, nailing the red-eyed early AM atmosphere of a Sydney warehouse ca. 95 — and it’s just as likely to cap off the night of many a secret inner west location to come. ‘Magic Lantern’ marries a dreamy synthesizer melody with a wicked, subby bassline. If there was a dancehall scene in ‘Ferngully’, this would’ve been the soundtrack, with enough low end to really rattle the treetops. On closer ‘Dub Generator’, a slightly-creepy mechanized voice urges you to ‘leave your worries at the door…come and join your friends upon the floor’ — an introduction to the dancefloor or an induction into some sinister cult Whatever the message, the dub chords and massive bassline lull you into the headspace where these words take hold.»

All songs recorded at Masking Tapes, Liquid Blue and 1/66 Enmore Rd, 1997-2000.