Munk & Lizzie Page – Southern Moon

Label: ExploitedScore: 8/10 

Exploited is a label which has always explored a curious agenda, and on their latest EP, they enlist the help of Munk & Lizzie Paige to do just that courtesy of the Southern Moon EP; a 5-track, barnstorming effort which emphasizes all that’s good and great about this most contemporary of contemporary labels.

It’s the ‘Extended Club Mix’ which gets us underway. A poten party-starter which would fit in neatly with the work of say, Him_Self_Her, it’s a sensual, pop-heavy crossover gem, the likes of which you can’t help but boogie and get on down to. Indeed, Lizzie Paige’s lyrics are very much the perfect foil for Munk’s elaborate production techniques.

Full of dexterous and nimble hues aplenty, Darius Syrossian brings the track to a rougher tech-house terrain. Cleverly, he keeps the vocal intact while bringing a host of bulging synths to the table. A zippy and discerning take on the original, it’s very much indicative of a producer at the peak of his powers right now. His dub mix is essentially the same track minus the vocals and more drums, although it does neatly leads us in to HNNY’s remix. HNNY, of course, is a producer who’s made a host of tastemakers stand up and take notice of late, and the relatively elusive Swede opts for a fun-filled palette on his remix. Again, it’s hard to dislike this one. 

Leading us out the door is – unusually – the original, a track which is actually pretty similar to the extended club mix. In fact, it’s pretty much the same track only shorter in length, but all this aside, it’s a stunning EP that very much stands on its own two feet. Good work from all involved.