Random Circuits

Chic Miniature - ”Escandalo” EP [Crosstown Rebels] (buy)

Chic Miniature is a collaboration between Guillaume Coutu-Dumont and Ernesto Ferreyra two of the strongest forces of “micro house” which is coming out of Canada today. We have covered Guillaume numerous times this year here at RC, he’s quite a favorite and definitely up there for being one of the producers of the year. His unique styled house struck a chord with me back when he released on [Floppy Funk] in the summer of 2007, since then he has had great success with his first full length album numerous remixes and a couple of solid EPs to boot. This latest one is a match made in “micro” heaven and comes courtesy of the Crosstown Rebels label, who coincidentally have been having quite a bad time after their distributor folded on them earlier this year, but you cant keep a good label down and the Rebels are certainly showing everyone that they are back and mean business. Ernesto Ferreyra who is part of this exciting duo made his name first and foremost by doing the DJ circuit and decided like many others to go into the studio, this is where in 2005 the pair released their first record as Chic Miniature the ”Conexion Califa”, since then Ernesto released his debut single back in 2006 and Guillaume went about taking on a whole genre to himself. Which brings us nicely up to date and ready for the next chapter the Escandalo EP.

The dynamic duo kick things of with “Escandalo” this is an exciting fresh take on micro tech house spoken vocals and vibrant loose percussion sets the tone the softly spoken vocal is a tale about relaxing. Warm drums and rhythmic percussion grooves it’s way around some luscious organic rhythms a lovely warm floaty piano loop is introduced and the percussion becomes very Cadenza esque, tight and a real joy to listen to. There are eerie ghostly sirens in the background competing with the tight percussion everything comes together beautifully this is most definitely an alfresco summer track no wonder the likes of Dear, Magda, Hawtin & more have been championing Chic Miniature of late.

“Chanchita” is up next this is more fast paced but equally as intricate if not more. Strumming drums and fast percussion rolls up next to some fast, peppered ethnic like vocals this is whirl-wind journey into micro house. Part tribal part house this is a fast paced hypnotic drum track that is very good indeed. Great textures and sounds all mould together incredibly well sometimes when doing it like this the producer can go overboard and make things too complicated but not these two it has a real Villalobos vibe and is a very well produced piece yes there is a lot going on but it works & works well.

Completing this fresh and exciting new EP is “Kimono” quite a sublime piece of music is this. A home grown piano sets the way this is accompanied by some tight organic percussion every now and then the piano will break away and go into its own the percussion takes a back seat and the gorgeous notes from the piano drift up and float away. Back comes the percussive elements now more intricate and complexed the two go a little deeper with the introduction of some rolling drums and some micro house whooshes, bleeps and other obscure noises. It’s that piano that gets me, this could quite easily be played as more of a chill out as well as being a winner on the floor.

An extremely well produced EP from two very talented individuals. Full of rhythm, texture, new ideas and lots of care and attention to detail. Super!

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