L’N’F – Awakening EP

Label: Unike MusikScore: 8/10 

Unike Muzik is a label that’s flourished in 2013, with their always potent take on house music proving an intoxicating blend of contrasting sounds that doesn’t pander to in vogue tropes or generic methods. For their latest release, it’s the turn of fledgling Swiss duo L’N’F to produce the goods. Whisper it, but UnikeMuzik09 might just be the label’s finest moment thus far.

The quite exceptional ”Soul Kitchen” eases us in. Much as its title alludes to, it’s a heady concoction of sounds, although it’s the acid squelches and the booming basskicks that separate it from the pack. Hanfry Martinez clambers aboard for remix duty soon after. The Spanish producer has seen his own stock soar no end in recent times, and his remix is indicative of the fact, as he spins a yarn that’s unashamedly made for the night’s most frantic moments.

”Oxa” is more hypnotic than it is stirring, and it helps bring an ethereal charm to the EP, before Argentine production powerhouse Brandub injects it with a whirling series of cosmic hues and a hazy dissonance that keeps us guessing. ”Akira”, features moments of both calming introspective and dancefloor panache alike (no easy feat), and the marathon comes to a halt with ”Flambe” making all the right part noises thanks to what sounds like some shrewd sample work.